The ongoing Asia Cup 2025 has taken a controversial turn with Pakistan formally asking for the suspension of match referee Andy Pycroft after India’s refusal to engage in the customary pre- and post-match handshakes during their Sunday match
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has submitted an official protest to the International Cricket Council (ICC), calling the act a “breach of the spirit of cricket” and accusing Pycroft of being complicit. According to PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, the referee allegedly instructed Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha not to shake hands with Indian players at the toss. Naqvi described the incident “utterly disappointing”, saying that dragging politics into cricket undermines the values the sport was built on.
Demanding Pycroft’s immediate removal from all Asia Cup matches, Pakistan also threatened to boycott their upcoming fixture against the UAE if action is not taken. Head coach Mike Hesson said his players were ready to shake hands after the match but Indian players had already retreated to the dressing room.
India has not released an official statement, and officials deny any directive to avoid the handshake. At the same time, they also say that there was no violation of ICC playing conditions and that the gesture is not mandatory under official rules. The ICC’s Code of Conduct and Playing Conditions do not require handshakes, in other words, it is a tradition not a regulation, though “spirit of cricket” talks of mutual respect and fair play.
As of now, the ICC has not issued a public response to the protest, whether the governing body will take any action remains to be seen
India on Sunday cruised to victory by seven wickets, chasing down 128 with ease after Pakistan managed only 127 for nine. Suryakumar Yadav anchored the chase with an unbeaten 47, sealing the win in just 15.5 overs. But more than the result, attention was drawn to the behaviour and attitude of the Indian side.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav and his team skipped the customary handshake with Pakistan—both before the match at the toss and after the game. While Pakistan’s players were seen waiting, the Indians had already started walking off. Yadav later confirmed that it was a team call, taken in line with the BCCI and government directives. “Some things in life are bigger than sportsmanship,” he said, dedicating the victory to the armed forces and expressing solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.
The refusal to shake hands carried strong political weight in India. With backing from the BCCI and government, the Indian team signaled that cricket cannot be “business as usual” with Pakistan after terror incidents—a message that resonates with a large section of voters who expect a firm stance. It also helps the ruling BJP maintain control over the nationalist narrative.
AIMIM and Shiv Sena (UBT) had opposed the match even before it was played, calling it an insult to the Pahalgam martyrs.
