Pakistan-India Handshake Row: ICC Rejects PCB Pleas, Pakistan Delays UAE Game
Things got tense for Pakistan cricket after the ICC turned down multiple requests from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to remove match referee Andy Pycroft following the controversial handshake incident.
The drama unfolded during the highly anticipated clash between Pakistan and India, when the Indian team reportedly refused to shake hands with Pakistan’s players. Pycroft, the Zimbabwean match referee, was allegedly involved in the confusion.
The PCB acted quickly, writing to the ICC and demanding Pycroft’s removal from the Asia Cup. Officials even threatened to pull Pakistan out of the tournament if their request wasn’t met. Emails and discussions stretched on for three days but ended without a resolution.
On Wednesday, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi told the Pakistan squad to stay in their hotel just an hour before their match against the UAE, delaying the start of the game.
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However, the PCB soon changed course, instructing the team to head to the stadium and confirming the match would go ahead. Despite this, the game still started an hour late.
Sources reveal that even after an inconclusive meeting between ICC and PCB officials, back-channel communications continued, with multiple emails exchanged to find a solution.
Following this, Andy Pycroft, joined by ICC General Manager Wasim Khan, met with Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha, head coach Mike Hesson, and team manager Naveed Cheema at the Dubai Cricket Stadium. Pycroft apologized for the incident during the Pakistan-India matchmatch, citing miscommunication as the cause.
Due to Richie Richardson’s unavailability, Pycroft supervised the UAE-Pakistan game. Sources confirm he will continue to oversee matches in the Super Four stage once the matter is fully resolved.
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