In response to Pakistan’s criticism in the post-match handshake dispute, former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has defended match referee Andy Pycroft, claiming the Zimbabwean official is not a “school teacher” and was merely carrying out his duties to prevent an unnecessary spectacle.
Last Sunday, Pycroft officiated when India chose not to shake hands with Pakistan following their Asia Cup match as a policy decision.
After India captain Suryakumar Yadav deviated from the norm during the toss, Pycroft was drawn into the controversy.
The PCB sent two emails to the ICC, first asking that Pycroft be removed from the competition and then asking that he not be allowed to officiate in Pakistan’s matches.
As the world organization fully supported its Elite Panel referee, both demands were turned down.
“Andy Pycroft actually saved everybody from seeing such a poor spectacle. India informed the match referee in advance, this is our decision, and we will follow it. That’s it. After all this drama, you lost the match. So what are you complaining about?” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel ‘Ash Ki Baat’.
“He is not a schoolteacher. He’s not a principal. He can’t go and bring Surya and say, ‘Come shake hands’. That’s not his job. What exactly is Pycroft’s fault here?” he asked.
The ICC denied PCB’s allegations that Pycroft had broken the “Spirit of the Game” code, stating that he was only communicating what the Asian Cricket Council’s venue manager had told him, with little time remaining before the game started.
Following a meeting that the governing body set up between Pycroft and the management of Pakistan’s team, which included manager Naveed Akram Cheema, head coach Mike Hesson, and captain Salman Ali Agha, the PCB said the referee “regretted the miscommunication.”
According to Ashwin, there was no ambiguity in the Indian players’ discussion with Pycroft; they were only carrying out their board’s instructions.
Pakistan’s demand for an apology further infuriated Ashwin.
“If I were Andy Pycroft, you are apologising to me. What would I even be apologising for? I’m sorry that Suryakumar Yadav didn’t shake your hand’? Really?” the 39-year-old from Chennai said.
In a separate email, the ICC emphasized that Pycroft had always “regretted the miscommunication” rather than offering an apology. The ICC also accused PCB of breaking “Players and Match Officials Area’ (PMOA) protocols,” an allegation that Pakistan refuted.
The ICC has once again designated Pycroft as match referee for Sunday’s high-stakes India-Pakistan Asia Cup Super 4s match, despite the PCB’s repeated protests. This shows that the ICC is determined not to create a precedent by removing the former Zimbabwe batter.
