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Andy Pycroft To Continue As Match Referee For India vs Pakistan Asia Cup Super 4 Match

Abhinav Tyagi

Andy Pycroft for ICC - (Source: @Johns/X.com)Andy Pycroft for ICC - (Source: @Johns/X.com)

In a significant development, there are reports that Andy Pycroft will continue to be the match referee for the upcoming India vs Pakistan Asia Cup match on Sunday, September 21, at the Dubai International Stadium. Notably, the two teams will square off for the second time in this edition, this time in the Super 4 round.

According to a report from Kushan Sarkar of PTI, the ICC has not adhered to PCB's earlier demands and stated that former Zimbabwe professional Andy Pycroft will once again be the match referee for the India vs Pakistan match. 

What Is The Controversy Surrounding Andy Pycroft?

It has been a week since Andy Pycroft was in the news, and all the chatter started during the Indo-Pak clash on September 21. Notably, the Suryakumar Yadav-led side refused to shake hands with Pakistan because of the nation's involvement in recent killings in Kashmir.

The act didn't go well with the PCB, and they instead urged the ICC to remove Andy Pycroft, who was the match referee, for the miscommunication and failing to notify the board regarding India's decision not to shake hands.

The matter went on for days, but the ICC refused to take any action against the 69-year-old. Eventually, Pakistan threatened to boycott the Asia Cup if Pycroft was not removed from the Asia Cup.

The drama grew so big that the PCB instructed the team to stay back in hotel for the UAE game. Eventually, the board members held a meeting with Pycroft at the Dubai International Stadium, where they claimed that the Zimbabwe national apologises to Salman Agha and the coach. 

Eventually, Pycroft continued as the match-referee while Pakistan agreed to play against uAE and eventually, qualified for the super four round after a comfortable win.