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ICC tells PCB that Pycroft has been cleared after investigation
ICC tells PCB that Pycroft has been cleared after investigation
The ICC told PCB that match referee Andy Pycroft did nothing wrong and won’t be removed. Pakistan delayed arriving for their match but later played after getting the green light from PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi.
The ICC has clearly told the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that match referee Andy Pycroft will not be removed from the Asia Cup panel. In its message, the ICC said Pycroft did nothing wrong.
After looking into the handshake issue, the ICC found that Pycroft actually helped avoid an awkward situation by quietly advising both captains—Suryakumar Yadav and Salman Ali Agha—not to shake hands at the toss. The ICC confirmed that Pycroft followed all rules and didn’t break any match protocols.
While the PCB had every right to raise a complaint, the ICC ran its own investigation and found no misconduct. The ICC also reminded the PCB that choosing match officials is its own decision and cannot be influenced by any cricket board.
The ICC made it clear that giving in to such demands could set a bad example for future tournaments.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan team left their hotel late for their match against the UAE, causing a delay. They were told to wait until PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi posted on social media that the board had instructed the team to go ahead and play the match.