The high-voltage Asia Cup Super Four clash between India and Pakistan on Sunday will once again feature Andy Pycroft as match referee, despite the recent “handshake row” that left the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) fuming.
Pycroft at the centre of controversy
According to ESPNcricinfo, the former Zimbabwe cricketer, who allegedly instructed captains Suryakumar Yadav and Salman Ali Agha not to shake hands during the toss of the September 14 group stage game, has retained his role. The PCB had formally demanded his removal after Pakistan’s heavy seven-wicket defeat to India, but the International Cricket Council (ICC) dismissed the plea.
The matter escalated further when Pakistan boycotted their pre-match press conference and arrived late for their next must-win fixture against the UAE in Dubai, delaying the start by an hour. Sources said players were kept at the hotel while PCB officials held backroom discussions with ICC representatives.
PCB’s social media misstep
Adding fuel to the row, the PCB shared a muted video of a meeting between Pycroft and Pakistan’s team management just before the UAE clash. The clip, which was widely circulated online, was later deleted, but it sparked fresh speculation about tensions between the board and the ICC.
India stays focused amid off-field drama
Amid the political and administrative controversies, India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav urged his team to remain focused. Speaking on Saturday, he said:
“I feel our preparations have been really good leading into the tournament. We had three good games. We want to follow the good habits from the last few matches and take it one game at a time.”
He added that the earlier victory over Pakistan does not guarantee an advantage. “We’ll have to start from scratch. Whoever plays well will win the game.”
Preparations for the Super Four
India, fresh from a 21-run win over Oman in Abu Dhabi, will have an optional practice session in Dubai. Pakistan, however, will undergo a full training session at the ICC Academy as they look to regroup after back-to-back controversies.
India squad:
Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson, Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh.
Pakistan squad:
Salman Ali Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Waseem Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Afridi, Sufyan Moqim.
A match beyond cricket
With Pycroft once again officiating, Sunday’s encounter is not just about cricketing skills but also about how both boards and the ICC handle the mounting off-field drama. For fans, the stakes remain as high as ever in one of the sport’s fiercest rivalries.