A major standoff recently unfolded during the Asia Cup, with Pakistan threatening to withdraw from the tournament before their match against the UAE. The dramatic events in Dubai saw the Pakistani team initially refusing to leave their hotel, demanding clarification from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in Lahore. Following an hour-long delay, the team finally took the field, reportedly after receiving an ‘apology’ from match referee Andy Pycroft.
According to the PCB, Zimbabwean official Andy Pycroft offered an ‘apology for miscommunication’ regarding an incident in the previous India-Pakistan match. This involved Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav reportedly declining to shake hands with his Pakistani counterpart, Salman Ali Agha. Yadav’s alleged refusal was a gesture of solidarity for victims of a terrorist attack in Pahalgam.
Following the incident, the PCB filed two official complaints with the International Cricket Council (ICC), explicitly calling for Pycroft’s removal. However, the ICC firmly rejected both demands. Despite Pakistan’s threats of withdrawal, their refusal to leave the team hotel, and the subsequent chaos, they ultimately reversed their stance after discussions with the ICC and a direct meeting with Pycroft.
Did Andy Pycroft Actually Apologize to the Pakistan Team?
In a public statement, the PCB claimed on social media that “ICC’s controversial match referee Andy Pycroft has apologised to the manager and captain of the Pakistani cricket team.” The statement further detailed that Pycroft had “prohibited the captains of both teams from shaking hands during the India-Pakistan match,” leading to a “strong reaction” from the PCB. According to their account, Pycroft “termed the incident on September 14 as a result of miscommunication and apologised,” and the “ICC has expressed its readiness to investigate the violation of the Code of Conduct during the match on September 14.”
The Truth Revealed: No Apology Extended
Despite the PCB’s assertions, a thorough fact-check reveals that Andy Pycroft did not, in fact, issue an apology to the Pakistan team. Sources close to the situation confirm that when Pycroft met with Salman Ali Agha, team manager Naveed Akram Cheema, and coach Mike Hesson in his room at the Dubai International Stadium, the meeting’s sole purpose, at Pycroft’s insistence, was to clarify any potential misunderstandings.
A reliable source stated unequivocally, “There was no question of any apology. Especially from someone who did no wrong.”
It’s crucial to note that while the PCB shared a video of this meeting, the audio was conspicuously muted, preventing any independent verification of the discussions. The ICC has consistently maintained that Pycroft acted in full compliance with the code of conduct and firmly informed the PCB that match officials cannot be replaced simply based on a team’s demands, as this would set a dangerous precedent. Faced with no other viable option, Pakistan eventually conceded and proceeded to play their match against the UAE with Pycroft officiating as the match referee.