‘We’ll talk soon’, Mohsin Naqvi on Pakistan’s cancelled press conference:Ravichandran Ashwin slams PCB for targeting Andy Pycroft, ‘He is not a school teacher’

Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has backed match referee Andy Pycroft amid Pakistan’s criticism post-handshake controversy. He supported the International Cricket Council (ICC) official, saying that he is not a “school teacher”. Rather, Pycroft was only doing his job to avoid an unnecessary spectacle, as per Ashwin. Still, when ICC did not take action and continued with Pycroft as match referee, Pakistan avoided a pre-match press conference. However, when Asian Cricket Council(ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi was asked about the reason, he did not reply clearly. Instead PCB and Naqvi faced backlash from ex-India spinner. Mohsin Naqvi says, ‘We’ll talk soon’ about PAK not attending press conference There is Ashwin backing Pycroft while Pakistan still protested the ICC official as match referee for the 21 September matchup by not attending the pre-match press conference. When ANI reporter asked the PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi, the reason behind it, the ACC chief said, “We’ll talk soon.” Ashwin thrashes PCB for apology row; backs Andy Pycroft Speaking on his YouTube show ‘Ash Ki Baat’, R Ashwin thrashed PCB for demanding Pycroft’s apology, stating, “If I were Andy Pycroft, you are apologising to me. What would I even be apologising for? I’m sorry that Suryakumar Yadav didn’t shake your hand? Really?” “Andy Pycroft actually saved everybody from seeing such a poor spectacle. India informed the match referee in advance. This is our decision, and we will follow it. That’s it. After all this drama, you lost the match. So what are you complaining about?” Ashwin further added. A false claim from PCB Notably, Pakistan Cricket Board(PCB) mailed the International Cricket Council(ICC) twice, demanding the suspension of Andy Pycroft. When both of them got rejected, Pakistan posted a video claiming that the ICC official apologised to the PAK board. Questioning, Pycroft’s fault, Ashwin asked, “He is not a school teacher. He’s not a principal. He can’t go and bring Surya and say, Come shake hands. That’s not his job. What exactly is Pycroft’s fault here?” Also Read: Stressed Pakistan team consult psychologist ahead of Super-4 clash: IND-PAK match in Asia Cup today The ICC rejected PCB’s claims that Pycroft had violated the Spirit of the Game code, clarifying that he was merely relaying what had been conveyed by the Asian Cricket Council’s venue manager, with little time left before the match began. Retaliatory action from ICC The ICC, in another email, underlined that Pycroft had never apologised but only regretted the miscommunication, and also accused PCB of violating Players and Match Officials Area (PMOA) protocols, a charge Pakistan denied. Despite PCB’s repeated objections, the ICC has once again assigned Pycroft as match referee for Sunday’s high-octane India-Pakistan Asia Cup Super 4s game. Notably, Pycroft was the referee last Sunday when Indian players did not shake hands with Pakistan after their Asia Cup match, citing it as a policy decision. He was dragged into the controversy since management informed him beforehand that there will be no handshake.