PCB Demands Removal of Asia Cup Match Referee After India’s No-Handshake Snub
Tensions are running high in the Asia Cup after a heated India-Pakistan clash in Dubai. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has called for the immediate ousting of match referee Andy Pycroft from the tournament. This comes in the wake of Indian players skipping the traditional post-match handshake with their Pakistani counterparts following India’s seven-wicket victory on Sunday.
Naqvi, who also leads the Asian Cricket Council, fired off a strong message on X (formerly Twitter). "The PCB has lodged a complaint with the ICC regarding violations by the Match Referee of the ICC Code of Conduct and the MCC Laws pertaining to the Spirit of Cricket," he wrote. "The PCB has demanded an immediate removal of the Match Referee from the Asia Cup." This demand caught many by surprise, as earlier PCB statements didn’t mention it.
The drama unfolded right after the thrilling match, where India chased down Pakistan’s target with ease, thanks to standout performances from captain Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube. As the Indian players headed back to the dressing room, they bypassed the usual handshake line, leaving the Pakistan team stunned. Even Pakistan captain Salman Agha boycotted the post-match TV interview in protest.
PCB’s team manager Naveed Cheema didn’t hold back, filing a formal protest. "We lodged a strong protest against the Indian players’ behaviour of not shaking hands. It was deemed unsporting and against the spirit of the game," a PCB statement read. "As a protest, we did not send our captain to the post-match ceremony."
The no-handshake policy started even before the game. Suryakumar skipped shaking hands with Salman after the toss. According to PCB, match referee Andy Pycroft had instructed Salman not to offer a handshake to his Indian counterpart beforehand. "The match referee Andy Pycroft had asked captain Salman Ali Agha, at the time of the toss, not to shake hands with his Indian counterpart," the PCB statement added. "The Pakistan team management has lodged a protest, calling the behaviour against the spirit of sports."
Naqvi voiced his frustration on social media soon after the match. "Utterly disappointed by the lack of sportsmanship today. Dragging politics into the game goes against the very spirit of sports. Let’s hope future victories are celebrated by all teams with grace," he posted.
But India stood firm on their decision, tying it to a painful recent event. Suryakumar dedicated the win to the victims of the Pahalgam terrorist attack on April 22, which killed 26 people, and praised the Indian armed forces for Operation Sindoor that targeted the perpetrators. "We took a team call. We had come only to play. We had given them a reply," Suryakumar said. "Some things are beyond sportsmanship. We dedicate this victory to our armed forces who took part in ‘Operation Sindoor’ and stand with families of the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack."
As the Asia Cup continues, this India-Pakistan rivalry episode highlights how cricket often mirrors deeper tensions. Fans are watching closely to see if the ICC steps in or if cooler heads prevail in upcoming matches.
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