DUBAI ( The COW News Digital) In a dramatic turn of events at the Asia Cup, controversial match referee Andy Pycroft has officially apologized to the Pakistan cricket team, diffusing a brewing crisis that nearly led to Pakistan boycotting the remaining matches of the tournament.
According to reports, tensions escalated after Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) expressed strong objections to Pycroft’s decisions during the high-voltage Pakistan-India clash earlier this week. PCB accused the referee of bias and demanded his immediate removal from officiating Pakistan’s matches.
The board sent two formal letters to the International Cricket Council (ICC), warning that Pakistan would boycott the rest of the Asia Cup fixtures if its concerns were ignored.
Following PCB’s ultimatum, the ICC convened an emergency meeting to address the matter. Sources said the meeting was intense, with a prolonged deadlock between PCB and ICC officials. During this period, Pakistan’s national team remained at their hotel and refused to leave for their scheduled match against the UAE, causing a delay.
In a rare move, ICC extended the start time of the match by one hour to allow negotiations to continue. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi also consulted with former chairmen Ramiz Raja and Najam Sethi before reaching a final decision.
Eventually, ICC decided to launch a formal investigation into the incident and instructed Pycroft to issue a personal apology to the Pakistan squad. The apology was accepted by PCB officials, who subsequently gave the team a green signal to proceed to the stadium.
The match against UAE eventually went ahead, with Pycroft continuing his duties as match referee despite the controversy.
PCB sources say they will closely monitor the ICC’s investigation and expect transparent findings before the tournament concludes. The episode highlights the ongoing concerns over umpiring and refereeing standards in high-stakes cricket tournaments, particularly in matches involving arch-rivals Pakistan and India.
Cricket analysts have praised PCB’s firm stance, suggesting it sends a strong message about fair play and accountability at the highest level of the game
