New Delhi: Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has backed match referee Andy Pycroft amid Pakistan’s criticism within the post-match handshake controversy, saying the Zimbabwean official just isn’t a “faculty instructor” and was solely doing his job to keep away from an pointless spectacle.
Pycroft was the referee final Sunday when India, as a coverage determination, didn’t shake palms with Pakistan after their Asia Cup match. He was dragged into the controversy after India skipper Suryakumar Yadav didn’t comply with the conference on the toss.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) wrote two emails to the ICC – first requesting Pycroft’s removing from the match after which searching for his exclusion from their video games. Both calls for have been rejected, with the world physique standing firmly behind its Elite Panel referee.
“Andy Pycroft really saved everyone from seeing such a poor spectacle. India knowledgeable the match referee upfront – that is our determination, and we are going to comply with it. That’s it. After all this drama, you misplaced the match. So what are you complaining about?” Ashwin stated on his YouTube channel ‘Ash Ki Baat’.
“He just isn’t a schoolteacher. He’s not a principal. He cannot go and convey Surya and say, ‘Come shake palms’. That’s not his job. What precisely is Pycroft’s fault right here?” he requested.
The ICC rejected PCB’s claims that Pycroft had violated the �’Spirit of the Game’ code, clarifying that he was merely relaying what had been conveyed by the Asian Cricket Council’s venue supervisor, with little time left earlier than the match started.
The governing physique later organized a gathering between Pycroft and Pakistan’s crew administration — captain Salman Ali Agha, head coach Mike Hesson and supervisor Naveed Akram Cheema, the place the PCB claimed the referee stated he “regretted the miscommunication.”
Ashwin stated the Indian gamers have been merely following directives from their board, with no ambiguity in communication to Pycroft. He was additionally scathing about Pakistan’s demand for an apology.
“If I have been Andy Pycroft, you might be apologising to me. What would I even be apologising for? ‘I’m sorry that Suryakumar Yadav did not shake your hand’? Really?” the 39-year-old from Chennai stated.
The ICC, in one other electronic mail, underlined that Pycroft had by no means apologised however solely regretted the miscommunication, and likewise accused PCB of violating ;Players and Match Officials Area’ (PMOA) protocols – a cost Pakistan denied.
Despite PCB’s repeated objections, the ICC has as soon as once more assigned Pycroft as match referee for Sunday’s high-voltage India-Pakistan Asia Cup Super 4s recreation, underlining its resolve to not set a precedent by eradicating the previous Zimbabwe batter.
