Ahead of the Asia Cup 2025 `Super Four` clash between arch-rivals, India and Pakistan, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has assigned the game to its Elite Panel Match Referee, Andy Pycroft.
“Andy Pycroft is the match referee for Indo-Pak game,” a tournament source told PTI.
The Asia Cup 2025 `Super Four` match between arch-rivals, India and Pakistan, is scheduled to be played on September 21 at the Dubai International Stadium.
So far, the list of match officials for Sunday`s match has not been made public. The other match referee in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025 is former West Indies skipper Richie Richardson.
Pycroft was the match referee last Sunday when Team India, as a policy decision, didn`t shake hands with the Pakistan team, but the Zimbabwean found himself in the centre of the controversy after India skipper Suryakumar Yadav didn`t follow the convention at the toss.
The Pakistan team had written two emails to ICC, first requesting Pycroft`s removal from the tournament and then asking the global body to remove him from their games. The ICC rejected both the demands and stood firmly with the referee.
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.
Later, the ICC pointed out in an email that Pycroft never apologised and also accused PCB of violating protocols related to the `Players and Match Officials Area` (PMOA), which the latter denied.
On the other hand, ahead of the Asia Cup 2025 `Super 4` clash against Team India, the Pakistan team management decided not to interact with the media.
“Pakistan have once again cancelled pre match presser conference in order to avoid questions on Pycroft appointment and no handshake controversy,” revealed a tournament`s source.
Asia Cup 2025 `Super Four` India vs Pakistan: Squads
India`s Asia Cup 2025 squad: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Hardik Pandya, Jitesh Sharma(w), Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Sanju Samson, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Arshdeep Singh.
Pakistan`s Asia Cup 2025 squad: Salman Ali Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Waseem Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Afridi, Sufyan Moqim.
(With ANI Inputs)
