[Watch] Ramiz Raja calls Andy Pycroft India’s ‘permanent fixer,’ criticizes Suryakumar Yadav for mentioning Pahalgam attack

Ramiz Raja pointed out that Andy Pycroft has officiated in 90 Indian games.

Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja made some shocking remarks while addressing the media ahead of Men in Green’s Asia Cup 2025 match against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Dubai on September 17.

The handshake controversy that dominated the current Asia Cup in the UAE has been blamed on match referee Andy Pycroft by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Before and after their match on Sunday, Indian Cricket Team players refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts, which sparked the controversy.

In what they called “misbehaviour of the highest order,” Pakistan claimed that match referee Pycroft had prevented their captain, Salman Agha, from shaking hands with India’s Suryakumar Yadav during the toss. 

After that, the PCB went to the ICC to demand that Pycroft be kicked out of the Asia Cup 2025 and even threatened to leave the competition if nothing was done.

Andy Pycroft is India’s permanent fixer: Ramiz Raja slams Suryakumar Yadav for his Pahalgam attack and Indian armed forces statement

The Pakistani board is awaiting news from Islamabad over whether to move forward with their participation in the tournament after the Pakistan-UAE match began later than scheduled on Wednesday due to the ongoing issue between the PCB and ICC.

Raja told reporters outside the PCB headquarters that Pycroft had been a “permanent fixer” for the squad, having officiated 90 of India’s international matches.

“It is a win for us. It was a critical situation. Emotions were running high. I am happy that we didn’t take an emotional decision. Our cricket would have been damaged if we had gone with the boycott decision. I have always believed this, that all the talking needs to be done by our cricket team. The frustration should be shown on the field, and it should inspire us to do better,” Ramiz told the media.

Raja also expressed his frustration with Suryakumar’s post-match interview comments, citing the India captain’s statements regarding the Pahalgam incident and dedicating the victory to the Indian Armed Forces.

“My biggest objection was what was said in the post-match presentation (by Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav). That editorial was the critical point. If the apology has come, then it’s good. If cricket turns into a political ground, then nothing can be achieved. I just hope that our cricket team does better. I have always seen that Andy Pycroft is the favorite 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 a neutral platform. But anyway, I just hope better sense prevails,” Raja stated.

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India and Pakistan will clash again in the Super four stage on September 21 in Dubai, after Pakistan qualified for the next round with a 41-run win over UAE.

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