Pakistan Threaten To Pull Out Of Asia Cup If Match Referee Andy Pycroft Not Removed: Report

Dubai: The Indian team’s no-handshake policy during Sunday’s Asia Cup clash has stung Pakistan and bruised Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) ego.

A day after lodging a protest against the Indian team with match referee Andy Pycroft, the Pakistan board targeted Pycroft himself.

PCB has reportedly warned the International Cricket Council (ICC) that its team could pull out of the tournament if its demand of Pycroft’s removal from the panel of match referees for the Asia Cup is not met.

PCB’s grudge against Pycroft is that he overstepped authority by instructing Pakistani captain Salman Agha not to shake hands with his opposite number Suryakumar Yadav at the toss, there by taking the side of one team.

“The PCB has lodged a complaint with the ICC regarding violations by the Match Referee of the ICC Code of Conduct and the MCC Laws pertaining to the Spirit of Cricket. The PCB has demanded an immediate removal of the Match Referee from the Asia Cup,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also heads the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), said in a social media post on Monday.

According to Cricbuzz, Pakistan could boycott their next game, against the UAE on September 17, if Pycroft is not removed from the referees’ panel.

The report mentioned that the information could not be independently verified. However, a report in CricketPakistan.com said that PCB insisted Pycroft must be removed from the Asia Cup or it will not play further matches.

PCB suspends top official for failure to act on handshake row

Meanwhile, Pakistani media reported that PCB has suspended its Director of International Cricket Operations, Usman Wahla, following Sunday’s handshake controversy at Dubai International Stadium.

Wahla reportedly faced disciplinary action for failing to take ‘timely action’ over the handshake row that erupted after Pakistan were handed a seven-wicket mauling by Suryakumar Yadav’s team.