A major controversy has arisen as former PCB chairman Ramiz Raja accused ICC match referee Andy Pycroft of showing favoritism towards the Indian Cricket team. The incident comes in the wake of a handshake dispute following a match between India and Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, where Indian players reportedly did not shake hands with the Pakistani team. The PCB reacted strongly, alleging that Pycroft instructed Salman Agha not to shake hands with Suryakumar Yadav at the toss. Prior to the match against UAE, efforts were made by the PCB to replace Pycroft. The match was delayed by an hour while high-level discussions took place involving Naqvi, Ramiz Raja, and Najam Sethi regarding the fallout from a potential boycott. Ramiz Raja openly criticized Pycroft, calling him a “permanent fixer” for India and alleging consistent bias in his decisions. Raja expressed contentment that the PCB did not resort to an emotional decision to boycott the match, emphasizing that focus should remain on the team’s performance. Furthermore, Raja highlighted the post-match comments by Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav, saying this was a critical moment. Raja expressed the desire that cricket does not become a stage for political maneuvering and also wished for the Pakistani team to improve. He also alluded to Pycroft’s frequent involvement in Indian matches as an indicator of his bias.
