Pakistan had threatened to boycott their match against the UAE if Andy Pycroft remained the match referee, holding him responsible for the “handshake row” during the September 14 clash against India.
In a pointed statement, former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja described Pycroft as a “permanent fixer for India” and “a favourite for Team India.” Raja made the remarks during a press conference following Pakistan’s decision to drop their boycott threat ahead of the UAE match in Dubai.
Pakistan had refused to take the field if Pycroft was appointed, citing the incident during the India game when captain Suryakumar Yadav declined to shake hands with Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha both at the toss and after the match. Yadav’s gesture was intended to show solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam terrorist attack. The PCB lodged two separate protests with the ICC demanding Pycroft’s removal, but both were rejected. The standoff ended after the PCB stated that Pycroft had apologized to the Pakistan manager and captain for a “miscommunication” at the toss.
“I have always seen Andy Pycroft as the favourite for Team India,” Raja said. “I think he is a permanent fixer when it comes to India. He has officiated in 90 Indian games. This is blatant and one-sided, and it shouldn’t happen on a supposedly neutral platform.”
Incumbent PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi invited Raja and former PCB chief Najam Sethi to the board headquarters to discuss the Pycroft issue. Naqvi, who also heads the Asian Cricket Council, ultimately instructed the Pakistan team to play the match against the UAE. Pakistan won by 41 runs, setting up another high-stakes encounter with India on September 21. Reports suggest that a boycott would have cost Pakistan $16 million in ICC compensation.
“It is a win for us,” Raja said. “It was a critical situation, emotions were high, but I am glad we avoided an emotional decision. Boycotting would have damaged our cricket. I have always believed that discussions should happen off the field, while frustration should inspire us to perform better on it.”
Raja also criticized Yadav’s post-match remarks, stating, “If cricket turns into a political battlefield, then nothing can be achieved.” The Indian captain had dedicated the win to the victims of the Pahalgam attack and their families.
Pycroft, 69, a former Zimbabwe cricketer, has officiated over 200 matches since joining the ICC Elite Panel. The ICC reportedly dismissed PCB’s complaints, stating that Pycroft’s actions “were consistent with how a match referee would handle such a situation, given the limited time before the toss.”
