KEY POINTS
- PCB Chairman stresses that the honour and dignity of Pakistan is the board’s top priority and cannot be compromised
- The PCB lodged a formal complaint to the ICC and MCC, accusing referee Pycroft of breaching cricket’s integrity
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday suspended its Director of International Cricket, Usman Wahla, for failing to take immediate action regarding the conduct of the match referee and the Indian team during the Asia Cup.
A PCB official familiar with the situation revealed that Wahla was disciplined for not responding quickly to the behaviour of the Indian team and referee Andy Pycroft, who allegedly instructed players not to shake hands after the match.
PCB Chairman’s Statement
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi expressed deep disappointment over the incident, emphasising that protecting the country’s dignity remains the board’s highest priority.
“For me, there is nothing more important than my country. The honour and dignity of Pakistan cannot be compromised,” Naqvi remarked.
The controversy began when India defeated Pakistan by 7 wickets on Sunday at Dubai International Stadium, and Indian players refused to shake hands with Pakistan’s team.
PCB’s Formal Complaint to ICC and MCC
In response, the PCB formally lodged a complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), accusing referee Andy Pycroft of breaching both the ICC Code of Conduct and MCC Laws of Cricket.
The PCB labelled Pycroft’s directive as a “serious violation” of cricket’s spirit and integrity. According to the complaint, Pycroft had told Pakistan’s captain, Salman Ali Agha, before the toss that there would be “no handshake,” while also instructing the media not to report on the matter.
