On Dussehra day, India locked horns with the West Indies in the first Test at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium. Shubman Gill was there for the toss but once again luck refused the Indian captain.
West Indies had won the toss and decided to bat. Meanwhile, Ravi Shastri, seemingly his usual energetic self, introduced both captains; oddly enough, the loudest cheer was reserved for the match referee, Andy Pycroft.
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Andy Pycroft steals the show in Ahmedabad
Rarely is it that the show is stolen by the match referee instead of Shubman Gill, but that was the case during the toss before the first Test.
The applause stemmed from the Asia Cup incident a few weeks back, where the PCB had taken shots at the Zimbabwe-based referee over a handshake saga against India. Ravis Shastri, in fact, also hyped Pycroft during the toss with an elegant allusion to the Asia Cup controversy.
“Back in the house all the way from Dubai in the hot seat, Andy Pycroft,” said Ravi Shastri.
What was the controversy involving Andy Pycroft?
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) felt that India should have shaken hands and wanted the ICC to have Andy Pycroft, the match referee, removed for this miscommunication and for failing to inform the board of India’s decision to forego the handshake.
Drama snowballed to such an extent that players were asked by the PCB to remain in the hotel for the next game against the UAE. Thereafter, the board members held a meeting with Pycroft at Dubai International Stadium, where it was claimed that Zimbabwe apologised to Salman Agha and the coach.
Eventually, Pycroft continued as the match referee while Pakistan agreed to play against the UAE and, after a comfortable win, qualified for the Super Four round. Nonetheless, talking about the ongoing Test match, India have got off to the perfect start as the Windies are reduced to 39/3 after 11 overs.
