Dubai, Sept 17: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has turned down the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) request to remove match referee Andy Pycroft from the Asia Cup. The protest came after a controversy during the India-Pakistan match in Dubai, where players were told not to shake hands at the toss.

PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi complained that Pycroft’s action went against the “Spirit of Cricket” and the ICC and MCC codes. The board argued that the incident showed poor sportsmanship and formally asked for the referee to be replaced.

ICC clarified that Pycroft was only passing on instructions from Asian Cricket Council officials and that there was no sign of bias. Officials said the decision was not made by Pycroft himself, but was part of ground-level communication.

Despite PCB’s warning that it might boycott its next match against the UAE, ICC rejected the demand. Pycroft will continue as match referee for Pakistan’s remaining fixtures in the tournament.

Reports suggest PCB considered alternatives, such as requesting a different referee for its games, but no agreement was reached. The controversy has raised concerns about relations between the cricket boards during the high-profile tournament.

Andy Pycroft, 69, is one of ICC’s most experienced referees, with nearly 700 international matches overseen in his career. He will remain on duty for the Asia Cup despite PCB’s objections.