Former PCB chairman and ex-Pakistan cricket captain Ramiz Raja has made serious allegations against ICC match referee Andy Pycroft, accusing him of showing favoritism towards India during the Asia Cup 2025. Ramiz went as far as calling Pycroft “India’s fixer”, following a tense build-up to Pakistan’s match against the UAE in Dubai on September 17.
Pakistan’s Protest Over India Match Fallout
The controversy stems from Pakistan’s previous clash against India on September 14, when the Indian team, led by Suryakumar Yadav, allegedly refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts after the match. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) lodged a formal complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC), claiming that this act violated the spirit of cricket. The PCB also accused Andy Pycroft of facilitating the incident and demanded his removal as match referee—a request that was denied by the ICC.
In protest, Pakistan’s players and support staff refused to board the team bus ahead of their next match against the UAE, delaying the start of play by nearly an hour. Eventually, the team took the field, with Pycroft still officiating the game.
Ramiz Raja Slams Pycroft, ICC, and Suryakumar Yadav
Speaking after the match, Ramiz Raja expressed both frustration and relief. “It is a win for us. It was a critical situation. Emotions were running high. I’m happy we didn’t take an emotional decision to boycott the game. That would have damaged Pakistan cricket. I’ve always believed that the response should come through our performance on the field.”
Ramiz further criticized Suryakumar Yadav’s post-match remarks and suggested that cricket was being turned into a political arena. “My biggest objection was what was said in the post-match presentation. That editorial was the critical point. If an apology has come, then good. But if cricket becomes political, nothing good will come of it.”
However, his strongest words were reserved for Andy Pycroft, whom he accused of consistent bias. “I have always seen that Andy Pycroft is the favourite for Team India. I think he is a permanent fixer over there when it comes to the Indian team. He has officiated in 90 Indian games. This is blatant, this is one-sided, and it shouldn’t happen like that. This is supposed to be a neutral platform.”
Despite the off-field drama, Pakistan defeated the UAE by 41 runs, securing their place in the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup. Their next match will be a much-anticipated rematch against India on Sunday, September 21.
