Former PCB president Ramiz Raja accused the International Cricket Council of favoring India, especially having Andy Pycroft officiating all the Indian matches. Speaking alongside PCB and ACC chairman Mohsin Naqvi during the press conference.
Raja Questions ICC’s Neutrality Over Pycroft’s Frequent India Assignments
Raja pointed out that Pycroft seemed to be assigned to India’s matches far too often, casting serious doubt on the ICC’s neutrality. “To me, this looks blatant. I had a feeling he was doing a lot of games, but when you actually look at the stats, it starts to look very one-sided.”
"This is supposed to be a neutral platform—referees and officials are there for that very reason," Raja said, before suggesting otherwise. "But it felt like he was deliberately placed there. Hopefully, better sense will prevail."
Also Read: Handshake Row: Indian Players Ordered to Maintain Distance from Pakistani Net Bowlers
Handshake Row Sparks Tensions, ICC Denies Misconduct by Pycroft
The controversy didn’t end there. The PCB accused match referee Andy Pycroft of blocking a post-match handshake between India’s Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan’s Salman Agha after a tense encounter, later brushing off the incident as a “miscommunication.”
In a sharply-worded post on X, the PCB claimed: “ICC’s controversial match referee Andy Pycroft has apologised to the manager and captain of the Pakistani cricket team... The ICC has expressed its readiness to investigate the violation of the Code of Conduct.”
Also Read: 'Take it up with Asia Cup organiser. We have no role': What ICC bluntly told PCB in handshake saga
However, ICC sources have pushed back, denying Pakistan’s version. They stated there was no official investigation, and Pycroft wasn’t found guilty of any misconduct. According to them, the apology was simply due to a mistake by a venue manager.
Despite the backlash, Pycroft resumed duties at the Dubai International Stadium, overseeing Pakistan’s match against the UAE, leaving the matter unresolved and the questions still lingering.
Pakistan managed to defeat the UAE in yet another low-scoring match in Dubai, and moving to the next stage of the tournament, they will face India again during the Super 4s, with the schedule yet to come.
Also Read: Asia Cup 2025: Pakistan joins India in Super 4s; IND vs PAK clash yet again in Dubai
