PCB seeks removal of match referee Pycroft from Asia Cup

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has demanded the immediate removal of match referee Andy Pycroft from the ongoing Asia Cup, alleging that he violated the ICC’s code of conduct during the high-voltage clash against India in Dubai.

PCB lodges formal complaint

The 69-year-old Pycroft, a former Zimbabwe cricketer, officiated the India-Pakistan game where Indian players did not shake hands with their rivals after the match. The PCB lodged a formal complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC), despite the tournament being under the jurisdiction of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).

PCB calls conduct ‘unsporting’

PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi confirmed on social media platform X that the board had sought Pycroft’s removal. “The PCB has lodged a complaint with the ICC regarding violations by the Match Referee of the ICC Code of Conduct and the MCC Laws pertaining to the Spirit of Cricket,” Naqvi said.

Earlier, Pakistan had protested with the ACC, describing the Indian players’ refusal to shake hands as “unsporting.” “Team manager Naveed Cheema lodged a strong protest against Indian players’ behaviour. As a protest, we did not send our captain to the post-match ceremony,” a PCB statement added.

Political undertones

The Dubai fixture carried extra significance as it was the first meeting between the two nations on a cricket field since the Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir and India’s subsequent ‘Operation Sindoor’ across the border in May. The tension spilled over into the post-match exchanges, amplifying the PCB’s concerns.