No-Handshake Controversy in Asia Cup 2025 Escalates as Pakistan Cricket Board Demands Removal of Match Referee
The PCB has reportedly warned the ICC that if their demands are not addressed, they may consider withdrawing from the 2025 Asia Cup.
The no-handshake incident between India and Pakistan players after their Asia Cup 2025 match on Sunday at the Dubai International Stadium has taken a dramatic turn. On Monday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) escalated the situation by demanding the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft from the ongoing tournament and threatened to boycott their next game if their demand is not met.
The controversy began when Indian players, after securing a seven-wicket victory, walked straight to their dressing room without shaking hands with their Pakistani opponents. Pakistan’s captain Salman Agha and his teammates waited outside the Indian dressing room, but there was no response, which left Pakistan’s head coach Mike Hesson visibly upset. In protest, Salman skipped the post-match press conference.
The PCB initially filed a formal protest with the match referee but soon went further, accusing Pycroft of overstepping his authority. According to the PCB, Pycroft instructed the two captains, India’s Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan’s Salman Agha, not to shake hands at the toss, a move they say unfairly favored India. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also heads the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), accused Pycroft of violating the ICC Code of Conduct and the MCC laws regarding the spirit of cricket, calling his actions a “serious breach.”
In a strong statement on social media, Naqvi demanded Pycroft’s immediate removal from the Asia Cup refereeing panel. Reports from CricketPakistan.com suggest that the PCB has warned the International Cricket Council (ICC) it might pull out of the tournament altogether if their demand is not met. The PCB has also reportedly threatened to boycott their next match against the UAE on September 17.
Meanwhile, there are reports that the ACC is considering disciplinary action against India for their players’ walkout without shaking hands. No official sanctions have been announced yet.
With tensions running high, India and Pakistan could face off again on Sunday in a Super Four stage fixture, setting the stage for another high-stakes encounter amid growing controversy.