ICC match referee Andy Pycroft apologised on Wednesday to the manager and captain of the Pakistani cricket team over an alleged controversial decision he took during the India-Pakistan match.
Pycroft had prohibited the captains of both teams from shaking hands following the match on September 14, prompting strong criticism from the Pakistan Cricket Board.
He described the incident as a result of miscommunication and issued an apology, according to PCB.
The International Cricket Council has expressed its readiness to investigate any potential violation of the Code of Conduct during the match, according to a report by Times of India.
Pakistan team refuses to leave hotel over Pycroft issue
Pakistan’s cricket team on Wednesday refused to leave its hotel for the must-win Asia Cup group match against the UAE in Dubai after the country’s demand to have Pycroft removed as match referee was rejected for a second time by the ICC.
Pakistan held Pycroft responsible for the embarrassment it faced after Indian players refused to shake hands following their match on Sunday, in a gesture of solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.
“Pycroft will remain match referee for Wednesday's game and if Pakistan don't turn up, UAE will be awarded full points,” well-placed tournament sources told PTI. A PCB source added that the players “have been told to stay in their rooms and wait for further instructions.”
The UAE team, however, arrived at the stadium and would have advanced to the Super Four stage if the match hadn't taken place. The Pakistani cricket team, though, showed up after a delay of an hour at the match venue.
PCB alleges misconduct by Pycroft
According to the PCB, the 69-year-old Pycroft, a former Zimbabwe cricketer, had told national captain Salman Ali Agha to refrain from shaking hands with Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav and did not allow the customary exchange of team sheets between the captains.
“This misconduct violates Article 2 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Match Officials, which specifically makes it an offence for the Match Referee to conduct himself in a manner, which is contrary to the spirit of game and violates the MCC Laws,” the PCB alleged in its first complaint letter to the ICC.
“Given the gravity, political nature/background, and far-reaching consequences and repercussions, the misconduct has also caused disrepute to the game,” it added.
The ICC rejected these accusations and maintained the same position even when a second letter was sent by the PCB. Sources in the ICC and Asian Cricket Council ( ACC) said Pycroft had no role in the fiasco and “in fact saved Pakistan from being blind-sided by informing them about what the Indians were planning to do.”
Pycroft had prohibited the captains of both teams from shaking hands following the match on September 14, prompting strong criticism from the Pakistan Cricket Board.
He described the incident as a result of miscommunication and issued an apology, according to PCB.
The International Cricket Council has expressed its readiness to investigate any potential violation of the Code of Conduct during the match, according to a report by Times of India.
Pakistan team refuses to leave hotel over Pycroft issue
Pakistan’s cricket team on Wednesday refused to leave its hotel for the must-win Asia Cup group match against the UAE in Dubai after the country’s demand to have Pycroft removed as match referee was rejected for a second time by the ICC.
Pakistan held Pycroft responsible for the embarrassment it faced after Indian players refused to shake hands following their match on Sunday, in a gesture of solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.
“Pycroft will remain match referee for Wednesday's game and if Pakistan don't turn up, UAE will be awarded full points,” well-placed tournament sources told PTI. A PCB source added that the players “have been told to stay in their rooms and wait for further instructions.”
The UAE team, however, arrived at the stadium and would have advanced to the Super Four stage if the match hadn't taken place. The Pakistani cricket team, though, showed up after a delay of an hour at the match venue.
PCB alleges misconduct by Pycroft
According to the PCB, the 69-year-old Pycroft, a former Zimbabwe cricketer, had told national captain Salman Ali Agha to refrain from shaking hands with Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav and did not allow the customary exchange of team sheets between the captains.
“This misconduct violates Article 2 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Match Officials, which specifically makes it an offence for the Match Referee to conduct himself in a manner, which is contrary to the spirit of game and violates the MCC Laws,” the PCB alleged in its first complaint letter to the ICC.
“Given the gravity, political nature/background, and far-reaching consequences and repercussions, the misconduct has also caused disrepute to the game,” it added.
The ICC rejected these accusations and maintained the same position even when a second letter was sent by the PCB. Sources in the ICC and Asian Cricket Council ( ACC) said Pycroft had no role in the fiasco and “in fact saved Pakistan from being blind-sided by informing them about what the Indians were planning to do.”
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