Andy Pycroft suffers Pakistan's wrath in Asia Cup 2025; removed

In a recent development, Pakistan have received a boost before their Asia Cup 2025 group match against the United Arab Emirates. Andy Pycroft has been removed from officiating their remaining fixtures, and West Indies cricketer Richie Richardson will be the match referee for the rest of their campaign.

The Pakistan Cricket Board expressed dissatisfaction with Andy Pycroft’s role as match referee in the high-profile India-Pakistan clash. They filed a formal complaint to the ICC demanding his removal from the tournament. However, the ICC confirmed that Pycroft would continue officiating in the Asia Cup 2025.

Andy Pycroft Removed from All Pakistan Matches in Asia Cup 2025

The Pakistan Cricket Board accused Andy Pycroft of going against ICC rules. Notably, the board demanded that Pycroft be removed from all of Pakistan’s remaining matches.

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There were even reports that Pakistan might consider pulling out of the competition. After a day of speculation and private meetings, it was agreed that Pycroft would not officiate Pakistan’s next group-stage fixture against the UAE on September 17.

"Pakistan will play the tournament, but Andy Pycroft will not be officiating the match against the UAE," a source within the PCB confirmed the development to PTI.

According to Indian news agencies (PTI and ANI), a “middle-of-the-road” solution was reached that allowed Pakistan to continue in the tournament.

The ICC brought in Richie Richardson as the match referee. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also holds a political role as Pakistan’s interior minister, managed to move past the controversy without further damaging the tournament.

Pycroft, One of the Most Experienced Match Referees in International Cricket

Andy Pycroft is now one of the most experienced match referees in international cricket. He has been on the ICC’s elite panel since 2009 and has officiated in more than 100 men’s Tests, 248 ODIs, 184 T20Is, and 21 women’s T20Is.

Before moving into officiating, the former Zimbabwe batter played 72 first-class matches and 100 List A games, scoring 4,374 and 2,576 runs, respectively. Pycroft represented Zimbabwe in three Tests and 20 ODIs.

He made his debut during the 1983 World Cup, and he was part of Kapil Dev’s iconic 175. Notably, he played in Zimbabwe’s maiden Test against India and scored 39 and 46 in two innings. Pycroft scored 152 runs in Tests at an average of 30.40 and 295 runs in ODIs at an average of 17.35.

Andy Pycroft is Involved in Several Big Controversies as a Match Referee

Pycroft has been involved in several big controversies as a match referee. He was the match referee during the Cape Town Test between Australia and South Africa in 2018, when Steve Smith, David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft were caught in the ball-tampering scandal.

He was also in charge during the Boxing Day Test between Australia and India in 2023. Former Indian skipper Virat Kohli was fined for a shoulder barge on young Australia opener Sam Konstas.

Pycroft was also the match referee when Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeez were reported by umpires for suspect bowling actions in international cricket.

Also read: BCCI issues official statement on India vs Pakistan No-Handshake controversy