ICC says PCB breached protocol, objects to apology video

The ICC has taken exception to the PCB having recorded on video the meeting between match referee Andy Pycroft and the Pakistan team management ahead of their Asia Cup game against UAE on September 17 in Dubai.

In a strongly-worded email sent on Thursday, according to PTI, ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta informed the PCB that the use of a mobile phone to film the conversation was a breach of protocol in the Players and Match Officials Area (PMOA), where the meeting took place. Apart from Pycroft, the meeting was attended by Pakistan captain Salman Agha, head coach Mike Hesson, team manager Naveed Akram Cheema and media manager Naeem Gillani. The ICC general manager of cricket Wasim Khan was also present.

When Gillani attempted to film the meeting, he was told that according to the anti-corruption code mobile phones were not allowed inside the PMOA. The PCB was insistent on filming the meeting, though, saying Pakistan would not play the match against UAE otherwise. A compromise was reached and Gillani was allowed to record the meeting without audio.

In his email, Gupta called out such action as misconduct and said the PCB had committed "multiple violations" of the PMOA protocol. At the meeting, Pycroft told the Pakistan management that he was merely the messenger of the instruction that India captain Suryakumar Yadav would not shake hands with Agha, and not the issuer of the directive. While he expressed "regret over the miscommunication and misunderstanding" around the situation, shortly after the meeting the PCB issued a statement claiming Pycroft had "apologised to the manager and captain of the Pakistan cricket team".

The ICC disagreed with this version and Gupta reiterated in his email to the PCB that Pycroft had expressed regret for the miscommunication.

The match between Pakistan and UAE on Wednesday eventually began after an hour's delay, and only after the PCB agreed to a meeting between Pycroft and the team management ahead of the game to try and resolve issues around the handshake-gate incident that had occurred at the toss of the India-Pakistan game on Sunday. Until then, there had been a stalemate between the PCB, who wanted Pycroft removed from the remainder of the Asia Cup, and the ICC, who refused such a demand.

The PCB's claim was that Pycroft had violated the code of conduct and the MCC's spirit of cricket in telling Agha not to shake hands with Suryakumar, an instruction he only received from the venue manager in Dubai minutes before the toss. The ICC said it had conducted an inquiry into the incident and cleared Pycroft's handling of the situation.

The PCB even threatened to pull the Pakistan team out of the Asia Cup, and for some time it looked like that could turn into reality when, on the day of their clash against UAE, the board told the players team to stay at the hotel beyond their scheduled departure time after learning that Pycroft was going to officiate the match. During calls between the ICC and PCB at this time, the meeting between Pycroft and the Pakistan team management was suggested, which eventually paved the way for the match to proceed.