India vs Pakistan toss: match referee got BCCI’s instruction just 4 minutes before, here’s what happened

The standoff between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding match referee Andy Pycroft’s handling of the India-Pakistan clash has largely calmed down. The issue had escalated when the PCB sent repeated letters asking for Pycroft’s removal from all their Asia Cup matches. Eventually, the board softened its stance, citing miscommunication, which brought the controversy close to resolution.

Despite this, the ICC is reportedly assessing whether the PCB breached certain protocols during an internal meeting that involved Pycroft. The global body is considering appropriate steps to address the matter, ensuring rules and procedures were not compromised.

Meanwhile, a fresh report has shed light on events that took place just before Pycroft was set to oversee the toss in the high-pressure Group A fixture between India and Pakistan in Dubai. These behind-the-scenes developments further explain how the row spiraled before reaching its current conclusion.

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ICC to Take Action Against PCB:

According to a report by ESPNCricinfo, Andy Pycroft was informed of the ‘no handshake’ directive only minutes before the toss in the India-Pakistan clash. Just four minutes prior, the Asian Cricket Council’s venue manager instructed him to convey the message on the field, leaving the referee with little time to process or respond.

The ACC venue manager acted after receiving communication from the BCCI, which had secured clearance from the Indian government. This directive was then passed on to Andy Pycroft shortly before the India-Pakistan toss took place. He informed, “There will be no handshake between captains Suryakumar and Salman.”

The PCB, upset over the events since Sunday, argued that Andy Pycroft should have conveyed the "no-handshake" directive to the ICC. However, the referee reportedly received the instruction only minutes before the toss, leaving him with no chance to escalate it.

Faced with limited time, Pycroft chose to brief Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha directly about the protocol. His intention was to avoid an awkward moment had Salman extended the traditional gesture to Suryakumar Yadav, who was bound by the decision. This last-minute communication became the focal point of PCB’s grievances against the Zimbabwean official.

Pakistan reportedly warned of pulling out of their Group A clash against the UAE on Wednesday if their demand to remove Andy Pycroft was not fulfilled. The ICC, however, turned down the request twice, and the match eventually went ahead after being delayed by an hour.

Following this, the PCB stated that Pycroft had apologised to Pakistan’s team manager and captain. But clarifications later revealed that it was not an admission of violating any protocol. Instead, the match referee had only expressed regret over the confusion and miscommunication that unfolded, distancing himself from the accusations levelled by the PCB.

The PCB, in its statement, claimed that the ICC had agreed to initiate an inquiry into a potential code of conduct breach during the September 14 clash. However, the ICC clarified that Andy Pycroft had committed no misconduct, dismissing Pakistan’s allegations.