Dubai witnessing a dramatic day as Pakistan, along with Pycroft, are at the center of the action
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) to remove match referee Andy Pycroft from the Pakistan vs UAE match due to a controversy. However, the ICC refused the PCB's demand and absolved Pycroft of any wrongdoing.
The controversy stemmed from an incident during the India-Pakistan match, where the PCB accused Pycroft of being biased towards India. On Wednesday evening, Pakistan's team bus was loaded with kit bags and ready to depart for the Dubai International stadium, but were asked to stay back at their city hotel.
The PCB wrote a letter to the ICC demanding Pycroft's immediate removal, alleging violation of MCC laws pertaining to the Spirit of Cricket. The ICC, however, did not find it within Pycroft's duty to regulate matters outside play, such as handshakes after the match.
The ICC communicated to the PCB that Pycroft's duty was only to maintain the sanctity of the toss. Indian cricket board officials believe the PCB has dragged Pycroft into a situation to set up a showdown with the ICC, headed by an Indian.
The ICC did not agree to the PCB's request, stating it would set a wrong precedent. Shoaib Akhtar Naqvi, the Interior Minister in the Pakistan government, may have backtracked from his aggressive stance on not playing the match and effectively walking out of the tournament.
Naqvi met with former PCB Chairpersons Rameez Raja and Najam Sethi as well as former head coach Aaquib Javed for a way forward. Pycroft's apology was limited to "miscommunication", if any, according to ICC officials.
The ICC has absolved match referee Andy Pycroft of any wrongdoing pertaining to the laws. The PCB issued a statement before the match claiming that Pycroft had apologized and that the ICC had agreed for a further enquiry. However, there is no information on the nature of the further enquiry.
The first ball in Pakistan's match against UAE was bowled an hour after the scheduled start time due to the controversy. The PCB then bargained for Pycroft not to officiate in the Pakistan vs UAE match, sending another letter on match day.
The PCB stands to lose approximately US$ 15 million, their share of ACC media rights proceeds from the tournament. The chairman of the Asian Cricket Council, who became prominent in connection with the incident involving match referee Andy Pycroft, is Jay Shah.
Naqvi directed his team to leave for the stadium and negotiated a delayed match start with the tournament council. The controversy has cast a shadow over the tournament, but the match eventually took place, albeit with a delay. The PCB's request to remove Pycroft was rejected by the ICC, maintaining the integrity of the game.
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