Andy Pycroft In Conversation With PCB - (Source : @ScreenGrab/X.com)
The do-or-die match between Pakistan and UAE is finally underway at the Dubai International Stadium after a long day full of drama. Notably, the game, which was scheduled to start at 8:00 pm, was delayed by an hour because of PCB's instruction for the team to stay back in the hotel.
Notably, the PCB were unhappy with match referee Andy Pycroft for not communicating India's decision of not shaking hands with Pakistan. The Mohsin Naqvi-led board demanded Pycroft's removal, and since the ICC didn't adhere to their request, they decided to pull out of the tournament.
Eventually, the PCB agreed to play the match with Pycroft as the match referee and released a press release, stating that the referee had apologised to the PCB and captain Salman Ali Agha. It also added that the PCB will conduct an inquiry into the matter.
"The ICC has expressed its willingness to conduct an inquiry into the code of conduct violation that occurred during the September 14 match," read PCB's statement.
Did Any Pycroft Really Apologise To The PCB?
Notably, several photos have now gone viral on the internet where Pycroft was in a room with Salman Agha and a few PCB members. However, it is noted that Pycroft only apologised for the miscommunication and not for the handshake row.
Further, reports also suggest that it is for the PCB to provide evidence of Pycroft being wrong in the incident that occurred on Sunday, September 14. Only if they manage to provide evidence will an inquiry start.
"The apology has only been tendered for the miscommunication, and ICC will only conduct its investigation when PCB furnish further evidence as to what went wrong during the game," wrote Kushan Sarkar in his tweet.
Here's ICC's six-pointer Reply To PCB
Kushan Sarkar also posted a six-pointer reply by the ICC on his Twitter page.
1) The ICC''s investigation was conducted on the basis of the information provided in the report lodged by the PCB. We took the report at Face value and note that no supporting documentation or evidence was provided with it. The PCB had every opportunity to submit statement from its team members alongside the initial report but chose not to do so.
2) Following our investigation, we determined that there was no case to answer on the part of match referee for the Misconduct. The actions that match referee took was, following clear directions to him from ACC Venue Manager, were consistent with how a match referee will deal with such an issue, communicated as it was with no time for him to do anything else (minutes before the toss)."
3) Mr Pycroft was committed to preserving the sanctity of the toss and avoiding any potential embarrassment that might have arisen.
4) The Match Referee was not at fault in any of this.
5) It is not the role of the Match Referee to regulate ay team or tournament specific protocols which have been agreed outside of the area of play, that is a matter for the tournament organizers and relevant team managers.
6) It appears that the PCB''s real concern or complain relates to the actual decision that handshakes didn''t take place. The PCB should therefore direct those complaint to the tournament organizer and those who took the actual decision (which was not the Match Referee). The ICC doesn''t have a role in that.
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