Former Indian cricketer Murali Kartik lashed out at Pakistan for delaying the start of their Asia Cup game against UAE on Wednesday. In their bid to put pressure on the ICC to remove Andy Pycroft as match referee following the handshake row and threatening to boycott the tie against UAE, Salman Ali Agha and co. delayed the start of the game by at least an hour. Kartik took a brutal dig at Pakistan’s antics, dubbing it childish and churlish.
‘Even kindergarten kids behave better’
Speaking on Cricbuzz, Kartik slammed the PCB for failing to take a stand and stick to their conviction. He claimed that Pakistan back-tracked on their demand after seeing the financial implication of losing $16 million if they chose to boycott the game. Dubbing Pakistan’s behaviour as childish, Kartik claimed that even kids in kindergarten behaved better.
“The only word I can think of right now is absolutely childish and churlish. Just because when you see, oh, there could be a financial implication, which literally is 16 million US dollars over a handshake saga or over something like this. I can’t think of anything. I think people in kindergarten, even kids in kindergarten nowadays, do not behave like this,” Kartik said.
Pakistan had penned at least two letters to the ICC seeking the removal of Pycroft as match referee and a probe into his alleged misconduct.
As per Cricbuzz, ICC responded to PCB suggesting that Pycroft was cleared in their own investigation. The Jay Shah-led ICC concluded that Pycroft was not guilty of any wrongdoing. Furthermore, while it acknowledged that PCB were well within their rights to complain, a decision in their favour would set a dangerous precedent.
“Controversial ICC match referee Andy Pycroft has apologized to the Pakistan cricket team’s manager and captain. Andy Pycroft had forbidden the captains of both teams from shaking hands during the India-Pakistan match. The Pakistan Cricket Board reacted strongly to Andy Pycroft’s action. Andy Pycroft apologizes for September 14 incident, calling it a miscommunication,” PCB said in a statement.
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