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DUBAI.— The impasse between Zimbabwean cricket match referee Andy Pycroft and Pakistan is over.
For some time yesterday, it appeared Pakistan would stick to their word that they would not play any further matches at the Asia Cup if the Zimbabwean was not kicked out of the tournament.
It followed a row after Pakistan’s match against India on Sunday.
After a lengthy delay, the Pakistan team finally left the hotel around 5:45pm, minutes after PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi tweeted that the squad had been asked to head to the Dubai International Stadium.
The match, as a result, was delayed by an hour.
Pycroft, who was in the stadium by 5:00pm local time and reportedly left the premises during the standoff, later officiated Pakistan’s match against the UAE.
In the aftermath, the PCB released a video and a press note revealing that Pycroft, the match referee they had twice requested the ICC to remove from Asia Cup duties, had deemed the Sunday handshake controversy a case of “miscommunication” and issued an apology. In a meeting at the Dubai International Stadium, Pycroft was joined by Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha, coach Mike Hesson and team manager Naveed Cheema, who had lodged the PCB’s protest over India’s refusal to shake hands after their Asia Cup fixture.
“ICC’s controversial match referee Andy Pycroft has apologised to the manager and captain of the Pakistani cricket team,” the board said in a media release.
“Andy Pycroft had prohibited the captains of both teams from shaking hands during the India-Pakistan match. The Pakistan Cricket Board had strongly reacted to Andy Pycroft’s action.
“Andy Pycroft termed the incident on September 14 as a result of miscommunication and apologised.”—Sports Reporter/Cricbuzz
Online Reporter