The former chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Ramiz Raja, has made explosive allegations against the match referee, Andy Pycroft, calling the latter the favorite of the Indian cricket team. Raja suggested that the referee had been assigned for the Blue Brigade game deliberately, which was to provide them with unfair advantages during the international fixtures. 

However, a closer examination of the ICC protocols and stats reveals that these accusations are false statements and have been fabricated. His allegations came after the controversial handshake saga during the Asia Cup 2025 clash against Indian, where their players avoided the Salman Ali Agha-led side.

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“Andy Pyrcroft is the favorite of Team India. I think he is a permanent fixer for them. This blatant, one-sided, and it should not happen on a neutral platform.” Raja declared in a statement as the video went viral on social platforms ahead of Pakistan’s group-stage clash against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on October 17 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Stats cancel Rami Raja’s false allegation of calling Andy Pycroft India’s favorite

The PCB, to protest the handshake controversy, didn’t send their captain against India in the post-match presentation and called for the removal of Pycroft from the rest of the tournament. When ICC didn’t accept their request, they sent a second letter and lightened their request to remove Pycroft from their clash against the UAE. ICC didn’t accept the second wish either, as the game got delayed for an hour.

Out of Andy Pycroft’s 535 men’s matches, 124 were for India, 107 for England, and 102 for Pakistan.

So, what exactly are you proving here? Maybe start with getting the numbers right before making a point.#jhahil #AsiaCup2025 #PakistanCricket #Pakistan https://t.co/RJkUdBIXsM

— Shubham Shrivastav (@shubhshr28) September 18, 2025

Raja’s statements are fully false. The Zimbabwean has officiated 135 clashes, the most for South Africa, followed by 132 for Sri Lanka. India comes in the third position of the table with 124 fixtures, while Pakistan is at fifth with 102. It reflects how Raja wasn’t sure of the actual number before making such a false statement.

Pakistan, due to Shaheen Afridi’s blistering knock, finished with 146/9 in their 20 overs before earning the victory over the Muhammad Waseem-led side by 41 runs to progress into the Super 4 stage of the competition. They will now face India next in Dubai on September 21.