• Source:JND
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India vs Pakistan, Asia Cup 2025: Despite being at the centre of a controversy involving a handshake row when India and Pakistan met on September 14 at the Asia Cup, Andy Pycroft will again serve as the match referee for the Super Four clash between the two traditional rivals, despite PCB's repeated requests to strike him off the roster.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had objected to Pycroft's involvement in their previous match due to the handshake issue, but the International Cricket Council (ICC) rejected their pleas and decided to retain him as the match referee.

"Andy Pycroft is the match referee for Indo-Pak game," a tournament source told PTI.

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The match officials' list for Sunday's blockbuster game hasn't been revealed yet. As per news agency PTI, the other match referee in the tournament is former West Indies captain Richie Richardson.

Pycroft found himself at the centre of controversy when India captain Suryakumar Yadav didn't follow the customary handshake at the toss and later the side chose not to shake hands with Pakistan after their match.

In a direct objection, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) sent two emails to the International Cricket Council (ICC), requesting the removal of Pycroft from the ongoing Asia Cup 2025.

In the first mail, PCB had asked for Pycroft's removal from the entire tournament. Later in the second mail, they requested that he be removed from Pakistan's remaining matches.

However, the ICC rejected both requests, stating Pycroft followed rules and regulations and also due to being bereft.

The ICC rejected PCB's claims that Pycroft violated the 'Spirit of the Game' code, insisting that he was merely a messenger who passed on what was conveyed to him from the designated Venue Manager of the Asian Cricket Council.

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Following the controversy over the "no handshake" incident, the ICC arranged a meeting between match referee Andy Pycroft and Pakistan's team management, which included captain Salman Agha, head coach Mike Hesson, and manager Naveed Akram Cheema, where the match referee said he "regretted the miscommunication".

The ICC, then in another e-mail, pointed out that Pycroft never apologised but only "regretted the miscommunication" and also accused PCB of violating protocols related to 'Players And Match Officials Area' (PMOA), which the latter denied.