Handshake row: ICC rejects Pakistan cricket board’s request to remove match referee Pycroft from Asia Cup

In a major setback to the Pakistan Cricket Board amid the handshake controversy, the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday rejected its request to remove match referee Andy Pycroft from the Asia Cup.

The PCB sought Pycroft’s removal after he allegedly asked its captain, Salman Ali Agha, not to shake hands with his Indian counterpart Suryakumar Yadav at the time of the toss in their match on Sunday in Dubai.

ICC rejected the request, saying it was the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) officials on the ground who informed Pycroft about the no-handshake policy at the toss.

The PCB had earlier alleged that Pycroft was acting under Indian pressure.

According to reports, PCB's Director of Cricket Operations Usman Walha didn't apprise his own skipper about the ‘no handshake’ policy, causing an embarrassment to the national team. An irate PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi ordered the sacking of Walha on Monday.

The match, in which India beat Pakistan by seven wickets, was played amid widespread boycott calls, with the opposition parties and a section of the fans slamming the BCCI decision, citing the Pahalgam terrorist attack.

Indian players chose not to shake hands with their counterparts from Pakistan—neither at the toss nor at the end of the match.

In his post-match press briefing, skipper Suryakumar Yadav said the team stands with the victims of the Pahalgam attack and dedicated India’s win to the armed forces.