Request of PCB to replace match referee Andy Pycroft during ongoing Asia Cup rejected by the ICC after Pakistan supposed he instructed their captain to keep away from handshakes with captain of India. The ACC officials instructed Pycroft about the no-handshake policy clarified by the ICC.
This controversy began when PCB expressed anger over involvement of Pycroft in a pre-match incident. They declared he directed Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha to keep away from handshakes with India captain Suryakumar Yadav during the toss.The ICC explained, as reported by media, that it was actually the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) officials on the ground who advised Pycroft regarding the no-handshake policy at the toss. Pakistan’s earlier belief that Andy Pycroft was acting under the influence of India.
After the match concluded in a 7-wicket win for the win for the Men in Blue, India had decided not to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts. After winning the match, Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube back out to the dugout and celebrated the win of match with teammates. On the Pakistan team side coach Mike Hesson and Pakistan team tried to shake hands with Indian team but were met with a closed dressing room door.
In the after-effects, PCB putted questions to the conduct of Pycroft and filed an official complaint to the ICC.
In the letter, PCB told, “It is alarming to note that an ICC-appointed and supposedly neutral match referee opted to indulge in conduct, which clearly violates the Spirit of Cricket and MCC Laws.”
“The match referee failed to discharge his responsibility: to ensure that respect was extended and maintained amongst the captains as well as between the two competing sides;-and to create a positive atmosphere by his conduct and encourage the captains and participating teams to do likewise.”
“In fact, the Match Referee’s instructions to the two team captains were entirely directed towards achieving the opposite result. 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.
“Given the gravity, political nature/background, and far-reaching consequences and repercussions, the misconduct has also caused disrepute to the game.”
