The Andy Pycroft controversy appears to have put an end to any doubts regarding Pakistan’s ability to continue in the Asia Cup.
The Sheikhs of the United Arab Emirates and Oman believed to have played a major part in reaching a compromise after the International Cricket Council (ICC) rejected the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) desire to replace match referee Andy Pycroft.
The authorities are thought to have removed the Zimbabwean from the roster for Wednesday’s match between Pakistan and the UAE, but the ICC’s decision to not recall Pycroft stayed the same. According to sources, Pycroft is still serving as a match official for the competition, and Richie Richardson, the other ICC referee on the panel, is thought to have been brought in for the knockout game. However, the agreement has not yet been formally verified.
After the PCB took the drastic stance of pulling out if Pycroft was still present among the match officials on Wednesday, claiming the official had sided with India during the September 14 encounter between the bitter rivals, some face-saving adjustments were required.
After the ICC turned down the PCB demand, things became more heated. Top Sheikhs of Oman and the United Arab Emirates are said to have stepped in to settle the dispute when it looked like the Pakistani squad could withdraw from the competition. Cricbuzz made contact with both Sehikhs.
The Pakistan Board stated that an official communication will be released on Wednesday, however neither the PCB nor the ICC have yet to do so. “A final decision will be made by tomorrow after discussions in this area are completed. Late on Tuesday evening, PCB spokesperson Amir Mir stated that the decision would be made with Pakistan’s interests in mind.
After its chief, Mohsin Naqvi, returned to Lahore from Islamabad, where he had gone to confer with the government on the team’s continued participation in the tournament, the PCB was scheduled to meet late on Tuesday night.
It has been learnt that Naqvi’s travel to Islamabad, where he serves as a minister in the Pakistani government, was intended to address the handshake incident, its ramifications, and the ICC deadlock over Pycroft, the match referee assigned to Wednesday’s match.
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