By Prakash Nair 
Colombo, September 15: The high-voltage India vs Pakistan clash at the Asia Cup 2025 has spilled beyond the field, with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) filing a formal complaint against match referee Andy Pycroft. The demand is clear: his immediate removal from the tournament.
India Clinches Win, But Drama Overshadows Cricket
India edged past Pakistan in a tight contest that should have been remembered for Suryakumar Yadav’s fluent half-century and Arshdeep Singh’s death-over brilliance. Instead, the spotlight shifted to an unusual off-field directive.
At the toss, Pycroft reportedly told Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha not to shake hands with Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav. The fallout continued post-match, when Indian players walked off without the customary handshake with their opponents.
PCB’s Protest Gains Steam
The PCB moved swiftly. Chairman Mohsin Naqvi publicly condemned Pycroft’s actions, calling them a violation of the ICC Code of Conduct and the Spirit of Cricket enshrined in MCC’s laws.
Team manager Naveed Akram Cheema lodged a protest with both Pycroft and tournament director Andrew Russell, demanding accountability.
“The message was against the very fabric of cricket’s values,” Naqvi declared on social media, urging the ICC to intervene.
Spirit Of Cricket Questioned
The MCC’s Preamble to the Laws makes clear that respect between players and captains is non-negotiable. Handshakes, while not a law, have long been part of cricket’s culture of sportsmanship.
For Pakistan, the absence of this ritual during a marquee match went beyond symbolism. Officials argue it undermines the very ethos of international sport, especially in contests already burdened with political weight.
Silence From ICC, Defence From India
So far, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has not issued any statement on the complaint. According to NDTV, the matter remains under review.
On the Indian side, Suryakumar Yadav defended his team, hinting that government and board directives influenced their stance. That line of defense complicates the debate, placing Pycroft’s role at the heart of a wider political-sporting overlap.
What Comes Next
If the ICC upholds the PCB’s complaint, Pycroft could face removal or reprimand. Alternatively, the council may defend his actions as precautionary given the sensitive India-Pakistan rivalry.
Either way, the controversy has ensured that what should have been a classic cricketing duel will instead be remembered for the absence of a handshake an act usually too routine to notice, until it vanished.
Sports News India | Asia Cup 2025
India beat Pakistan in Colombo, but the aftermath is all about Andy Pycroft and a handshake that never happened.
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- Prakash Nairhttps://hindustanherald.in/author/prakash/
- Prakash Nairhttps://hindustanherald.in/author/prakash/
- Prakash Nairhttps://hindustanherald.in/author/prakash/
- Prakash Nairhttps://hindustanherald.in/author/prakash/
