Andy Pycroft Archives

‘Pycroft is not a schoolteacher’ Ashwin slams Pakistan over handshake row

Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has hit out at Pakistan for targeting match referee Andy Pycroft in the aftermath of the much-debated handshake controversy during the Asia Cup 2025.

The issue erupted after India and Pakistan clashed in Dubai last week, their first meeting since cross-border tensions resurfaced in May.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) demanded Pycroft’s “immediate removal” after he instructed captain Salman Ali Agha to skip the customary handshake at the toss.

This sparked days of fallout, including Pakistan delaying their match against the UAE amid tense talks with the ICC.

Catch Asia Cup 2025 news updates here!

The matter was only resolved once Pycroft met the team management, explained his position, and privately apologised.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ravichandran Ashwin defended Pycroft and accused Pakistan of manufacturing unnecessary drama.

He argued that the referee had merely conveyed India’s stance to avoid an awkward on-field moment.

“Andy Pycroft actually saved everybody from seeing such a poor spectacle. India had informed the referee in advance that this was our decision, and we would stick to it. He simply passed on the message,” Ashwin explained.

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The veteran spinner stressed that Pycroft was unfairly made the scapegoat for a decision that lay solely with the Indian players and the BCCI.

“If no handshake was your problem with India, why were you looking for an answer to that problem in the UAE game? Why did you make Andy Pycroft the scapegoat? He has done nothing wrong,” Ashwin said.

“He is not a schoolteacher or a principal who can drag players together and make them shake hands. That’s not his job. What exactly is Pycroft’s fault here?” he added.

Ashwin concluded by underlining that the Indian players had been clear about their position from the outset, and the matter should have ended there rather than spiralling into controversy.

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Andy Pycroft to officiate Pakistan-India clash despite handshake controversy

DUBAI: Zimbabwean match referee Andy Pycroft will once again be on duty during the Pakistan-India encounter in the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup 2025 on Sunday.

Pycroft found himself at the heart of the handshake controversy during last week’s match between the neighbouring countries, who were engaged in cross-border tensions in May this year.

After the match, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) demanded Pycroft’s “immediate removal” after he instructed captains Salman Ali Agha and Suryakumar Yadav to skip the customary handshake at the toss.

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The fallout carried into Pakistan’s next game against the UAE, with the team delaying its arrival at the venue by an hour amid tense backroom discussions with the ICC.

It was only after a late meeting, in which Pycroft explained his stance and issued a private apology to Pakistan’s management, that the side agreed to take the field.

Catch Asia Cup 2025 news updates here!

Now, with the same official in charge, the high-voltage rematch comes under an added layer of intrigue.

Notably, both India and Pakistan will enter Sunday’s clash on the back of victories. India completed their group stage campaign unbeaten after defeating Oman, while Pakistan edged past the UAE in their final group match.

India: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson (wk).

Pakistan: Salman Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem.

READ: Pakistan seek redemption against India after handshake row

PCB rejects ICC inquiry, insists on Andy Pycroft’s removal: sources

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has doubled down on its demand for the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft from the ongoing ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025, warning that the team will not play under his supervision.

According to board insiders, the PCB has written a second letter to the International Cricket Council (ICC), adopting a hardline stance after its initial request was not entertained.

In the strongly worded response, the PCB rejected the ICC’s decision not to take action against Pycroft and labelled the inquiry into his conduct as nothing more than a formality.

Sources revealed that the board categorically stated it would boycott matches officiated by the controversial referee and maintained its stance that Pakistan’s participation hinges on Pycroft’s removal.

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The letter further argued that the ICC inquiry neither examined all aspects of the controversy nor engaged with the relevant stakeholders.

“Pakistan has urged that all concerns be fully addressed. Only after the official acceptance of our demand will Pakistan agree to play,” a PCB insider confirmed.

This development comes as Pakistan prepares to face the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in their final group match on Wednesday in Dubai.

However, PCB spokesperson Aamir Mir clarified on Tuesday that consultations are still ongoing, and a final decision on Pakistan’s participation will be announced before the match.

Catch Asia Cup 2025 news updates here!

“The decision will be taken keeping Pakistan’s interests in mind,” Mir said.

The saga stems from the no-handshake controversy in the India clash, where both captains skipped the customary gesture at the toss, and Indian players walked off without acknowledging their rivals after the match.

The PCB has held Andy Pycroft responsible for the incident, calling his directives a breach of cricket’s spirit and traditions.

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Asia Cup 2025: Match referee Andy Pycroft removed as Pakistan set for UAE clash

Pakistan is set to play UAE in the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 following the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft over handshake controversy, ARY News reported on Tuesday.

According to the sources, Richie Richardson will officiate tomorrow’s fixture between Pakistan and UAE. This match is crucial for both teams to advance to the Super Fours of the continental tournament.

This comes after the handshake row during the India-Pakistan clash at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 14.

India chased down Pakistan’s 128-run target, with skipper Suryakumar Yadav sealing the win in the 16th over.

The post-match proceedings, however, took a controversial turn as unbeaten batters Yadav and Shivam Dube bypassed the customary handshake, opting for fist bumps before walking off, leaving Pakistan players waiting.

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The PCB, on Monday, wrote to both the ICC and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), calling for Pycroft’s replacement following the controversial no-handshake episode in the high-profile clash against India.

The board argued that the referee’s directive to skip the traditional handshake at the toss, as well as post-match, undermined the spirit of cricket and violated the MCC’s code of conduct.

“No handshakes were exchanged before or after the match, which is a direct violation of the game’s spirit and long-standing traditions,” the PCB had stated in its letter, accusing Pycroft of failing in his responsibilities.

Earlier in the day, the Indian media reported that the International Cricket Council (ICC) had turned down the PCB’s demand to remove match referee Andy Pycroft from the ongoing Asia Cup 2025.

READ: Ton-up Sidra Amin takes Pakistan to 255

PCB denies reports of ICC rejecting Andy Pycroft removal request

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has rejected Indian media reports claiming that the International Cricket Council (ICC) has turned down its demand to remove match referee Andy Pycroft from the ongoing Asia Cup 2025.

The board argued that the referee’s directive to skip the traditional handshake at the toss, as well as post-match, undermined the spirit of cricket and violated the MCC’s code of conduct.

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While Cricbuzz reported that the ICC had rejected the request and defended Pycroft, PCB sources clarified on Tuesday that they are still awaiting an official response from the governing body.

“We have not yet received any formal reply from the ICC. We stand firm on our demand,” a PCB source said, adding that the board is considering various options if the matter remains unresolved.

The sources further stressed that Pakistan is committed to playing the game in the true spirit of sportsmanship, while reiterating Chairman Mohsin Naqvi’s earlier stance that “nothing is above the country’s dignity and honour.”

READ: Ricky Ponting clears the air on viral India-Pakistan no-handshake comment

ICC rejects PCB’s demand to remove match referee Andy Pycroft: report

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has reportedly rejected the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) demand to remove match referee Andy Pycroft from the ongoing Asia Cup 2025.

The PCB wrote a letter to the ICC and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) on Monday, demanding the removal of Pycroft from the ongoing Asia Cup 2025 after the handshake controversy in the India clash.

The fixture, played under a tense backdrop, witnessed unusual scenes from the start, with both captains skipping the customary handshake at the toss.

Catch Asia Cup 2025 news updates here!

According to the PCB, this was on the instructions of match referee Pycroft, a directive they believe went against the spirit of cricket and the MCC’s code of conduct.

“No handshakes were exchanged before or after the match, which is a direct violation of the game’s spirit and long-standing traditions,” the PCB said in its letter, stressing that Andy Pycroft “failed to fulfil his responsibilities as match referee.”

However, according to a report by Cricbuzz, the ICC rejected PCB’s request and conveyed their decision formally to the cricket board on Monday night.

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“The ICC has reasoned it out, saying the ACC officials on the ground are understood to have told Pycroft that there will not be any handshake at the toss,” the report stated.

“The ICC letter cleared the air and refuted Pakistan’s belief that the match referee was acting on behalf of the Indian team.”

Meanwhile, ARY News has reported that Pycroft is unlikely to officiate in any matches for Pakistan during the tournament and will be replaced by West Indian Richie Richardson.

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