Mumbai : The Pakistan Cricket Board has demanded the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft, alleging violation of ICC Code of Conduct in their match against India. The drama-filled match between India and Pakistan saw skipper Suryakuar Yadav not shake hands with the opposition counterpart Salman Ali Agha at the toss. Neither did the India players shake hands with the Pakistani side at the end of the game.
The gesture, or the lack of it, infuriated the Pakistan captain, who boycotted the post-match presentation ceremony after the match. On Monday, things escalated quickly as Pakistan lodged formal complaints against India players and match referee Andy Pycroft. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi took to X to share the development. He stated that Pakistan have demanded an immediate removal of the match referee from the tournament.
The PCB has demanded an immediate removal of the Match Referee from the Asia Cup,” Mohsin Naqvi tweeted. Mohsin Naqvi’s has demanded the removal of Andy Pycroft after the ICC match referee allegedly advised Salman Agha to not shake the hands of the India captain. The match referee Andy Pycroft had asked captain Salman Ali Agha, at the time of the toss, not to shake hands with his Indian counterpart.
Salman Ali Agha skipped the post-match presentation in protest against the behaviour of the Indian team, as the ceremony host was also an Indian, it added. According to the code of conduct laws, teams are expected to congratulate the opposition at the end of the match. Cricket owes much of its appeal and enjoyment to the fact that it should be played not only according to the Laws (which are incorporated within these Playing Conditions), but also within the Spirit of Cricket.
The major responsibility for ensuring fair play rests with the captains, but extends to all players, umpires, and, especially in junior cricket, teachers, coaches and parents. The India vs Pakistan match saw controversy from the very start. As the players readied for the national anthems, ‘jalebi baby’ blared out from the loudspeakers instead of the national anthem.
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