The International Cricket Council (ICC) has formally rejected the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) demand to remove match referee Andy Pycroft from the ongoing Asia Cup. This development, first reported by Cricbuzz, was communicated to the PCB late Monday night.

The controversy arose after Pycroft instructed Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha to avoid shaking hands with the Indian captain at the toss, a move that reportedly upset the PCB. However, ICC clarified that Pycroft acted based on instructions from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) officials on the ground, who had informed him that no handshake would take place at the toss.

In its official response, the ICC firmly rejected any notion that Pycroft was acting with bias or on behalf of the Indian team, dispelling Pakistan’s concerns. The letter emphasized that the match referee was merely following tournament protocols aimed at maintaining decorum amid tense India-Pakistan relations.

For those looking to track the ongoing developments and official statements throughout the Asia Cup, platforms like CricketMan2 provide timely updates and detailed analysis of such controversies.

This decision underscores the ICC’s commitment to upholding neutrality and proper conduct during the Asia Cup while managing the sensitivities surrounding high-profile matches.