PCB Boycott Controversy: Ramiz Raja Questions Match Referee Andy Pycroft’s Neutrality
What should have been a celebration of cricket’s biggest rivalry has instead spiraled into a full-blown controversy – one that’s now stretching far beyond the boundary ropes.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has taken strong aim at veteran ICC match referee Andy Pycroft, accusing him of partiality and blaming him for a post-match diplomatic snub that has further strained the already fragile cricketing ties between India and Pakistan.
It all began with a tense Asia Cup clash in Dubai last week, played under the heavy shadow of a terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, in which 26 tourists were killed by Pakistan-sponsored militants. In the days leading up to the match, social media was flooded with calls for a boycott, while former players from both sides weighed in with strong, often emotional opinions.
Despite the backdrop, the game went ahead – and India delivered a dominant performance, cruising to a seven-wicket win. But what happened after the final ball created more headlines than the game itself.
Breaking with tradition, the Indian team reportedly chose not to take part in the post-match handshake—an act seen by many as a silent protest. In response, the Pakistan team skipped the presentation ceremony altogether.
Then, the blame game began.
Former Pakistan skipper and ex-PCB chairman Ramiz Raja was among the first to point fingers—directly at match referee Andy Pycroft. Speaking to Geo News, Ramiz didn’t hold back:
“What’s interesting is…Andy Pycroft is favourite [for the Indians]. Whenever I host tosses, he’s always a permanent fixture over there,” he said.
“This is something blatant for me because though I thought he had refereed several matches, stats seemingly show something one-sided. It should not be like this. This is a neutral platform, which is why there are referees and match officials. However, I felt that he was fixed there. But I hope that better sense prevails.”
According to the PCB, Pycroft had instructed both captains—India’s Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan’s Salman Agha – not to shake hands at the end of the match, leading to a breakdown in protocol and heightened tensions. The board says this was done without proper communication or explanation.
What followed was unprecedented.
On Sunday, ahead of a must-win match against the UAE, the Pakistan team refused to leave their hotel in Dubai Marina, demanding Pycroft’s removal as match referee. The protest caused an hour-long delay, with the team eventually reaching the stadium just in time to take the field.
Even as Pakistan managed to pull off a scrappy win on the field, off it, things were spiraling. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi addressed the media, flanked by former chairmen Ramiz Raja and Najam Sethi, all echoing the same sentiment: Andy Pycroft was not neutral.
In an official statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), the PCB claimed:
“ICC’s controversial match referee Andy Pycroft has apologised to the manager and captain of the Pakistani cricket team. Andy Pycroft had prohibited the captains of both teams from shaking hands during the India-Pakistan match. The Pakistan Cricket Board had strongly reacted to Andy Pycroft’s action.”
The board further stated:
“Andy Pycroft termed the incident on September 14 as a result of miscommunication and apologised. The ICC has expressed its readiness to investigate the violation of the Code of Conduct during the match on September 14.”
Naqvi, confident that the board’s actions had vindicated their stance, added:
“I thank Allah that the honour of Pakistan has been upheld.”
But within hours, a twist emerged. ICC sources denied that any formal investigation had been opened and declared that Pycroft had not committed any wrongdoing. The apology, according to them, was merely an acknowledgment of a venue-level miscommunication—not an admission of guilt.
Despite PCB’s continued push, the lack of hard evidence has left their claims hanging in the air. Meanwhile, Pycroft has resumed his duties, officiating Pakistan’s next match against the UAE at the same venue.
What was meant to be a showcase of subcontinental cricket has now become a battleground of allegations, apologies, and administrative tension. And once again, the sport finds itself caught in the middle of a political and emotional storm.
While passions will always run high when India and Pakistan face off, many fans are now asking a deeper question – can cricket truly remain neutral when the world around it refuses to be?