Fact Check: Did Match Referee Andy Pycroft Apologise to Pakistan Team?
Pakistan threatened to quit Asia Cup 2025 over handshake row but reversed decision after ICC talks, with Pycroft staying on.
The Asia Cup 2025 was hit by fresh controversy when Pakistan threatened to withdraw from the tournament ahead of their match against UAE in Dubai, only to reverse the decision after tense discussions with the ICC.
The standoff began after the India-Pakistan clash, where Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav did not shake hands with Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha. The refusal came in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack. Match referee Andy Pycroft had instructed both captains to avoid handshakes, a move that angered the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
The PCB filed two formal complaints with the ICC, demanding Pycroft’s removal. Both requests were rejected, with the ICC stating that officials cannot be changed at the demand of one team. Pycroft, they maintained, was simply following the Code of Conduct.
On the day of the Pakistan-UAE match, the team remained at their hotel for over an hour, delaying the game while awaiting instructions from PCB headquarters in Lahore. Talks with the ICC eventually led to Pakistan agreeing to play.
The PCB later claimed that Pycroft apologised for a “miscommunication,” even releasing a muted video of the meeting.
In a social media post, PCB said, “ICC’s controversial match referee Andy Pycroft has apologised to the manager and captain of the Pakistani cricket team.”
“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.”
“The ICC has expressed its readiness to investigate the violation of the Code of Conduct during the match on September 14.”
FACT CHECK: Did Andy Pycroft Apologise to Pakistan Cricket Team?
No, Andy Pycroft did not “apologise” to Pakistan as PCB has claimed.
According to TimesofIndia, “There was no question of any apology. Especially from someone who did no wrong.”
However, ICC clarified that Pycroft had acted appropriately and followed the code of conduct fully.
Ultimately, Pakistan took the field against UAE with Pycroft continuing as match referee. The episode, though resolved, highlighted the tensions surrounding the tournament and left lingering questions about PCB’s handling of the situation.
