Key points
- PCB files complaint against referee
- No post-match handshakes exchanged
ISLAMABAD: Several Indian users on social media platform X recently shared a post from an account claiming to be Zimbabwean cricket referee and ex-player Andy Pycroft.
The post allegedly supported Pycroft’s controversial decisions during the Asia Cup 2025 match between India and Pakistan and criticised Pakistani players. However, this account has been confirmed as fake.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had filed a complaint with the ICC regarding Pycroft’s conduct during the high-stakes match in Dubai, which India won by seven wickets.
Tensions between the two countries were evident, especially when players skipped post-match handshakes—a gesture reportedly discouraged by Pycroft. According to PCB, Pycroft told Pakistan’s captain Salman Ali Agha not to shake hands with India’s Suryakumar Yadav before the toss.
Post-match duties
India’s players also walked off straight after the game, and Pakistan did not send their captain for post-match duties in protest.
A day later, an X account using Pycroft’s name reshared a post stating:
“Big decision by PCB. PCB has warned ICC that Pakistan will not play in the Asia Cup if the match referee is not removed.”
It was captioned:
“I stand by every decision that I took yesterday. Pakistan players have had a history of bringing disrepute to the game of cricket, be it Hafeez and Ajmal in the past or the current bunch of players like Faheem and Abrar. So, I had to take precautions.”
Fact-check
This post went viral, gaining over 1.8 million views, 2,600 reshares, and 23,000 reactions. Indian media outlet Odisha Bytes even quoted the post in a 15 September article.
A fact-check revealed the account’s original username was “90_gangadhar”. Attempts to access it initially showed “This account doesn’t exist”. Later, the profile loaded with the new username “90_andypycroft”.
Older posts in Hindi and about Indian politics indicated it was not Pycroft’s genuine account. An advanced X search showed recent posts under the new username, but older ones under “90_gangadhar”, proving the account was renamed.
Also, claims that Pycroft reported Hafeez for are false. A 2005 ESPNcricinfo report confirms it was Chris Broad, not Pycroft.
