PCB’s claim that Andy Pycroft apologised to Pakistan cricket team exposed as false. [Photo Source: ICC Photo]
The Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) statement that ICC match referee Andy Pycroft apologised to the Pakistan team has been proven false, according to a recent media report.
The controversy comes after a muted video circulated on social media showing Pycroft speaking with Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha, team manager Naveed Akram Cheema, and head coach Mike Hesson at Dubai International Stadium before their match against the UAE.
The row began during the Asia Cup match against India, when the two teams did not shake hands at the toss. PCB alleged that Pycroft had instructed the captains not to shake hands, calling it a "misconduct of the highest order" and a breach of the Code of Conduct. Pakistan demanded his suspension and even threatened to pull out of the tournament.
After their first complaint was rejected, PCB filed a second. They also instructed players not to leave the team hotel for the UAE game. A high-level meeting, which included former chairpersons Ramiz Raja and Najam Sethi, along with incumbent chairman Mohsin Naqvi, eventually cleared the team to play.
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Following the standoff, PCB released a social media statement claiming Pycroft apologised. It said:
"The ICC's match referee, Andy Pycroft, has apologised to the manager and captain of the Pakistan cricket team. Andy Pycroft had barred the captains of India and Pakistan from shaking hands during their match. The Pakistan Cricket Board had strongly reacted to Andy Pycroft's actions. Andy Pycroft termed the September 14 incident a result of miscommunication and apologised. The ICC has expressed its willingness to conduct an inquiry into the code of conduct violation that occurred during the September 14 match."
According to the Times of India, Pycroft only suggested holding a meeting with Agha and Cheema before the UAE game. He discussed "the possible miscommunication which happened" but did not apologise. A source told TOI:
"There was no question of any apology. Especially from someone who did no wrong."
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The ICC also rejected PCB’s claims in a six-point response. It said the complaints were baseless, noting that PCB provided no supporting documentation or evidence. The report stated:
"The ICC's investigation was conducted based on the information provided in the report lodged by the PCB. We took the report at face value and noted that no supporting documentation or evidence was provided with it. The PCB had every opportunity to submit statements from its team members alongside the initial report, but chose not to do so."
The ICC said Pycroft acted according to instructions from the ACC Venue Manager and only aimed to avoid embarrassment just minutes before the toss. They stated:
"The Match Referee was not at fault in any of this. It is not the role of the Match Referee to regulate a team or tournament-specific protocols which have been agreed outside of the area of play, that is a matter for the tournament organisers and relevant team managers."
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The credibility of PCB's public statements is called into question by this incident. The board might have unwittingly damaged its own standing with supporters and the media by declaring an apology that never materialised. According to analysts, this might have an impact on the PCB's next talks with the ICC and how future cricket disputes are resolved.
