ICC Confirms Andy Pycroft as Match Referee for India-Pakistan Asia Cup Clash Amidst Handshake Controversy
In a move that has fueled further discussion, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially confirmed Andy Pycroft as the match referee for the highly anticipated Asia Cup 2025 Super 4s encounter between fierce rivals India and Pakistan. This pivotal game is scheduled to take place this Sunday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
This appointment is particularly noteworthy given the recent controversy surrounding Pycroft. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had previously lodged formal complaints regarding Pycroft’s conduct during a prior match on September 14th. The PCB alleged that Pycroft had acted against the Code of Conduct by instructing players, specifically Suryakumar Yadav and Agha Salman, to avoid a post-match handshake.
The ICC, however, rejected the PCB’s demand to remove Pycroft. The initial response from the PCB was a dramatic threat to withdraw from the tournament, leading to a one-hour delay in their subsequent match against the UAE. Following extensive negotiations between the ICC, PCB, and the Asian Cricket Council, Pakistan ultimately conceded, played their match against the UAE, and successfully secured their spot in the Super 4s with a victory.
Adding another layer of intrigue, the upcoming India vs. Pakistan match will be held at the very same venue where the initial handshake controversy unfolded. The incident also notably led to Pakistani captain Agha Salman’s absence from the post-match presentation.
Entering this high-stakes contest, India boasts an impressive undefeated record in the tournament. The team, skillfully captained by Suryakumar Yadav, recently secured a 21-run victory against Oman in Abu Dhabi, maintaining their perfect streak as the only team from Group A to have defeated both the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan.
Pakistan’s journey to the Super 4s saw them clinch victories over the United Arab Emirates and Oman, but they suffered a significant defeat against India in their earlier meeting. Under Agha Salman’s leadership, the team will be highly motivated to improve their T20I record against India and achieve a crucial win in this much-anticipated rematch.