The Pakistan cricket team is all set and confident to face the United Arab Emirates in today’s Asia Cup clash, scheduled for the evening. According to team sources, preparations have been completed and the match will be played as per schedule. However, Pakistan has made it clear that the game will go ahead without Andy Pycroft, who has been rejected as match referee.
PCB sources revealed that West Indies’ former captain, Richie Richardson, is likely to be appointed as match referee for the Pakistan vs. UAE fixture.
It should be noted that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has once again written to the International Cricket Council (ICC), reiterating its firm stance over the controversial referee Andy Pycroft. Sources confirmed that the PCB has warned that it will stick to its boycott stance if the demand is not accepted.
Officials added that Pakistan will only confirm its participation once all reservations are addressed and the demand is formally accepted. A day earlier, an Indian cricket website claimed that the ICC had rejected Pakistan’s request to remove Pycroft as referee for the Pakistan-India match.
It is worth recalling that on September 15, following the handshake controversy during the match against India, Pakistan had demanded Pycroft’s removal from the Asia Cup and warned that the team would not play further matches if the referee was not replaced.
