Behind the Scenes: PCB’s Dispute with ICC and Referee’s…

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) demanded the removal of Andy Pycroft as match referee during the Asia Cup, accusing him of code of conduct violations during the match between India and Pakistan. The PCB’s allegations pertained to the failure of the two captains to shake hands. Despite the PCB’s threats, the International Cricket Council (ICC) stood by Pycroft, stating that he had followed instructions from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and had not violated any rules.

It was speculated for days whether Pakistan would participate in the ongoing Asia Cup. The uncertainly was fuelled when the PCB decided not to allow the Pakistan team to board the bus to the stadium for their match against UAE. This resulted in multiple discussions between the PCB, the ICC, and the ACC. The PCB’s negotiation team was led by its president, Mohsin Naqvi, and Salman Naseer, while the ICC CEO, Sanjog Gupta, represented the global cricket body in the discussions.

The Pakistan-UAE match was delayed by an hour due to these events. When the toss finally occurred, Andy Pycroft was on the field before the coin toss. The PCB was adamant about removing Pycroft from his officiating position due to alleged violations of the Code of Conduct.

In an initial email to the ICC on September 15, a day after the India-Pakistan match, the PCB brought up an “incident” during the toss where the Code of Conduct wasn’t followed. The PCB questioned the role of Pycroft, as the two captains, Suryakumar Yadav and Salman Agha, did not shake hands. The ICC looked into the matter and found that Pycroft had performed his duty appropriately and did not violate any code of conduct rules.

Despite this, the PCB insisted on Pycroft’s removal, threatening to withdraw from the tournament. The ICC responded by reiterating that Pycroft hadn’t breached any rules and that they couldn’t make personnel changes based on a specific team’s demands as it would set a dangerous precedent.

Pycroft later proposed a meeting with Pakistan’s captain Agha and manager Naveed Akram Cheema to discuss the alleged miscommunication. However, the PCB’s assertion that Pycroft apologized during the meeting was disputed by sources who claimed no apology was necessary or given.

Although there are ongoing discussions and negotiations, Pycroft officiated the Pakistan-UAE match and will continue to officiate for the remainder of the tournament. The PCB is required to provide more information to the ICC regarding their allegations.