Andy Pycroft Removed from Pakistan vs UAE Asia Cup Clash; Richie Richardson to Take Over - Reports

In a fresh twist to the ongoing handshake controversy, Pakistan and the PCB have received some relief as match referee Andy Pycroft, initially set to officiate the Pakistan vs UAE clash in the Asia Cup 2025, is now likely to be replaced by former West Indies captain Richie Richardson.

Pycroft Removed from Pakistan vs UAE Asia Cup Clash Amid Handshake Controversy

The drama began during the Group A clash between India and Pakistan, where controversy erupted right from the start. Match Referee Andy Pycroft had reportedly advised Pakistan skipper Salman Agha not to shake hands with Indian batter Suryakumar Yadav.

Also Read: Asia Cup 2025: Pakistan cry foul, lodges protest against India in Dubai

Following the match, the PCB officially complained about Pycroft, accusing him of bias and breaching the “code of conduct.” Pakistan cricket believed Pycroft was favouring India and demanded his complete removal from the tournament. Initially, it was speculated that Pycroft would continue to officiate the upcoming match against the UAE.

Also Read:“Handshake a Convention, Not a Rule”: BCCI Hits Back at PCB

However, the ICC later clarified that Pycroft was merely following instructions from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) officials. The situation escalated after the Indian team left the field without shaking hands with the Pakistani players, further fueling PCB's concerns and leading them to call for Pycroft’s removal from the tournament..

ICC Rejects PCB Appeal but Quietly Pulls Pycroft from Fixture

Now, as reported by ARY News, Pycroft has been removed from officiating Pakistan’s final group-stage match, with Richie Richardson set to take his place. While the ICC has rejected PCB’s formal appeal to remove Pycroft entirely from the Asia Cup, they have quietly pulled him out of this key fixture.

With this development, Pakistan may feel they’ve had the final say in the saga, but all focus now shifts to the high-stakes encounter. They face a virtual knockout against the UAE on Wednesday at the Dubai International Stadium, a must-win game to qualify for the Super 4s of the Asia Cup.