In a move that’s sure to keep cricket fans talking, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has re-appointed its Elite Panel Match Referee, Andy Pycroft, for the upcoming high-stakes India-Pakistan Asia Cup Super 4s match this Sunday. This decision comes despite persistent and strong objections from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), who had previously sought Pycroft’s removal from the tournament entirely.
A source close to the tournament confirmed Pycroft’s assignment for the pivotal Indo-Pak game. While the full list of match officials for Sunday’s encounter has yet to be publicly released, it’s known that former West Indies captain Richie Richardson is the other match referee for the tournament.
Pycroft first found himself at the heart of a controversy on September 14, 2025, during an earlier India-Pakistan match. On that occasion, the Indian team, led by skipper Suryakumar Yadav, reportedly did not adhere to the customary post-match handshake with the Pakistan squad. This unusual incident drew significant attention and put the Zimbabwean match referee in an awkward position.
Following this, the Pakistan team lodged two formal complaints with the ICC via email: one requesting Pycroft’s complete removal from the Asia Cup tournament, and a second asking that he be excluded from all their future matches. Both requests were firmly denied by the ICC, which stood steadfastly by its Elite Panel official.
The ICC clarified its stance by rejecting the PCB’s claims that Pycroft had violated the ‘Spirit of the Game’ code. The global cricketing body maintained that Pycroft was merely relaying a message conveyed to him by the designated Venue Manager of the Asian Cricket Council, and that due to the imminent start of the match, he had little time for alternative action.
Subsequently, the ICC arranged a meeting between Pycroft and the Pakistan team management, which included captain Salman, head coach Mike Hesson, and manager Naveed Akram Cheema. During this discussion, Pycroft expressed his “regret over the miscommunication.” However, the ICC later clarified in a separate email that Pycroft had not apologized, but simply “regretted the miscommunication.” The ICC also accused the PCB of breaching ‘Players And Match Officials Area’ (PMOA) protocols, an accusation the PCB denied.
Against this backdrop, the re-appointment of Pycroft for yet another India-Pakistan fixture clearly signals the ICC’s resolve not to yield to pressure. Allowing the removal of an Elite Panel referee under such circumstances could set an unwelcome precedent for future tournaments.