Pakistan Has COndemned Referee Pycroft’s Partial Attitude at Opening Toss
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has dismissed Pakistan’s demand to remove match referee Andy Pycroft, adding fuel to the already heated Asia Cup controversy.
The issue started during the high-voltage Pakistan–India clash when Pycroft stopped captain Salman Agha from a handshake at the toss and told the team’s media manager not to record it. After the match, Pakistan manager Naveed Akram Cheema raised objections, claiming even tournament officials admitted the orders had links to the Indian board — and possibly the Indian government.
The drama didn’t stop there. Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha boycotted the closing ceremony in protest, while Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav dedicated the victory to the Indian Army, dragging politics into cricket and sparking outrage.
Sources say Pycroft will not oversee Pakistan’s matches going forward, with ex-West Indies star Richie Richardson likely to step in. But the damage has been done — what should have been a celebration of cricket has instead turned into an ugly battle of politics, bias, and broken sportsmanship.
According to Indian media reports, the ICC has formally communicated its decision to the PCB.