Dubai: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had demanded the removal of Andy Pycroft from the panel of match referees for the ongoing Asia Cup, questioning his role in the handshake controversy before and after the match against India here on Sunday evening.

PCB had even contemplated pulling out of the tournament if its demand was not met.

Not unexpectedly, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has rejected Pakistan’s plea, giving Pycroft a clean chit.

In a personal note, ICC chairman Jay Shah praised Pycroft’s ‘outstanding service’ as a match referee.

Former Zimbabwe player Pycroft, one of the seniormost match referees in ICC Elite Panel, thanked Shah, ICC and Indian fans for supporting him.

“Overwhelmed by the love and support shown to me by Indian cricket fans regarding disgrafeul conduct by PCB officials and its chairman Mohsin Naqvi. Again would like to thank @JayShah and ICC for their unwavering support.,” Pycroft posted on X. 

According to a report in The Times of India, Pycroft had passed on instructions from an Asian Cricket Council (ACC) official to Pakistan captain Salman Agha not to shake hands with Suryakumar Yadav as per the Indian team’s policy.

The ball is now in PCB’s court on participation in the remainder of the tournament.

There has been no official word yet, but Pakistan will almost certainly take the field against the UAE on Wednesday, in their last preliminary group match.

Pullout from the tournament could lead to sanctions from the ICC.

“It is very unlikely that the PCB will pull out from the Asia Cup. If we do that, ICC will impose put heavy sanctions on the PCB, and that is something our board cannot afford. The financial situation post the Champions Trophy is not good,” ToI quoted a PCB source as saying.

However, the ACC may settle for middle ground by not slotting Pycroft as match referee for Pakistan’s remaining matches in the tournament.

“A respectable solution could be the removal of Pycroft from Pakistan’s matches. In that case, Richie Richardson is an acceptable name for PCB,” PTI quoted a source as saying.

PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi happens to be chairman of ACC.