ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has asked the International Cricket Council (ICC) to remove match referee from the ongoing Asia Cup following the handshake controversy that surfaced after Pakistan-India match.
In a formal complaint lodged with the ICC, PCB said Pakistan will not play in the Asia Cup if the match referee, Andy Pycroft, was not removed immediately. Neither the captains of the two teams shook hands after the toss nor the teams did it after the match ended.
The PCB also expressed frustration with pre-match protocols. Officials said Pycroft had advised both the captains not to shake hands at the toss.
Violation of spirit
The PCB has described Pycroft’s act as a “violation of the spirit” of cricket and the Marylebone Cricket Club rulebook of 1788.
“No handshakes were exchanged before or after the match, which is a direct violation of the game’s spirit and long-standing traditions,” the PCB stated in its letter.
The letter stated that Pycroft “failed to fulfil his responsibilities as match referee” in violation of the ICC Code of Conduct as could not ensure handshake between the players.
Pakistan’s concerns escalated after India secured a seven-wicket victory on Sunday. While the Indian players congratulated each other at the dugout, they refrained from acknowledging or shaking hands with the Pakistani team.
Pakistan T20I captain Salman Ali Agha did not attend the post-match presentation ceremony, breaking from broadcast norms where captains usually share their thoughts.
Head coach of the Pakistan cricket team Mike Hesson explained that the reason Salman was absent from the ceremony was because of the Indian team’s “disappointing” conduct at the end of the match.
Follow-on effect
“It was a follow-on effect of the fact that we were obviously keen to engage and shake hands at the end of the match, but that obviously didn’t happen,” Hesson said.
PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi on Monday on his X account said: “It was utterly disappointing to witness the lack of sportsmanship today. Dragging politics into the game goes against the very spirit of sports.”
“Let’s hope future victories are celebrated by all teams with grace,” he added.
