The Pakistan Cricket Team was ‘forced’ to join a crucial Asia Cup game against UAE on Wednesday after issuing multiple threats to withdraw. The PCB claimed that it had received an “apology” from match referee Andy Pycroft — even as the International Cricket Council ignored repeated requests for his ouster. The awkward saga has also prompted criticism from cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle as well as former players from both countries.
“The lesson for all of us is that you must never issue an ultimatum you cannot enforce. It makes you look weak,” Bhogle wrote on X without naming any of the parties.
The PCB could have lost up to USD 16 million for pulling out from the tournament. PCB chairman and Asian Cricket Council head Mohsin Naqvi reportedly took advice from two former PCB chairmen — Ramiz Raja and Najam Sethi — before deciding that the team would continue.
Multiple complaints, threats to exit
Controversy had erupted over the weekend after Team India scored a resounding victory against Pakistan but refused to shake hands with the players. The Pakistani Cricket Board had laid the blame squarely on Pycroft and insisted that he had ‘acted at the behest of BCCI’.
Pakistan lodged two separate complaints with the ICC for the removal of Pycroft but the world body summarily rejected both. The logjam ended after Pycroft reportedly “apologised” to the manager and captain of the Pakistani cricket team for “prohibiting” the handshake at toss on Sunday. Pycroft tendered an “apology for miscommunication” during Pakistan’s game against India.
The Pakistan Cricket Board also asserted that the ICC would be investigating its complaint against the 69-year-old.
“The ICC has expressed its readiness to investigate the violation of the Code of Conduct during the match on September 14,” the PCB stated.
In response, a source in the ICC said the apology was only for the “miscommunication.” “…and the ICC will only conduct its investigation when the PCB furnishes further evidence as to who was at fault for this entire mess,” the source said.
What was the core issue?
The men in blue had eked out a resounding seven-wicket win during the controversial clash that was sparked widespread protests and calls for boycott on Sunday. Political tensions also spilled onto the cricket pitch with Team India refusing to shake hands with the rival team after the match. Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha didn’t attend the post-match presentation ceremony in protest.
Indian Team captain Suryakumar Yadav said the decision to avoid handshakes with the cross-border rivals was a gesture of solidarity towards the victims of the Pakistan-backed Pahalgam terror attack and the Indian Armed Forces, which carried out Operation Sindoor in retaliation. Meanwhile Pakistan called the move “unsporting” while blaming Pycroft for acting in a partisan manner. The accusations were followed by a pullout threat and a formal demand to have Pycroft removed by the ICC, which rejected the plea.
(With inputs from agencies)