New Delhi, Sept. 17 -- The International Cricket Council (ICC) has backed match referee Andy Pycroft, rejecting the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) push to remove him from the Asia Cup panel. The decision follows a thorough ICC investigation after the India vs Pakistan match, which found no evidence of wrongdoing by Pycroft.

The PCB pointed fingers at match referee Andy Pycroft, alleging he instructed captains to skip handshakes at the toss and even blocked team sheet exchanges, favouring India. This incident, the first India-Pakistan clash since April's cross-border tensions, turned a routine gesture into a diplomatic flashpoint.

The PCB had raised concerns about Pycroft's conduct, prompting the ICC to launch an inquiry. However, the in...