DUBAI; The Asia Cup 2025 clash between Pakistan and India has spiraled into a full-blown controversy after the Indian team’s refusal to shake hands with Pakistani players.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has now lodged a formal complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), demanding the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft from the tournament.
The PCB’s complaint alleges that Pycroft himself instructed both captains to skip the customary handshake at the toss — a directive the board described as a breach of the spirit of cricket and contrary to the MCC’s established laws.
“No handshakes were exchanged before or after the match, which is a direct violation of the game’s spirit and long-standing traditions,” the PCB’s letter stated. It further argued that Pycroft had “failed to fulfil his responsibilities as match referee” and violated the ICC Code of Conduct.
The controversy began right from the toss, where Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav reportedly declined to greet Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha. The decision set an icy tone that carried through the game.
On the field, Pakistan, batting first, managed 127 for 9 in their allotted overs. Their start faltered as Saim Ayub was dismissed for a duck and Mohammad Haris fell for three. Sahibzada Farhan anchored the innings with a gritty 40 off 44 deliveries, while Fakhar Zaman contributed 17.
Late fireworks came from Shaheen Afridi, who blasted 33 off just 16 balls, striking four towering sixes to push Pakistan past 120. Faheem Ashraf (11) and Sufiyan Muqeem (10) added small but helpful runs.
India’s chase was straightforward. Yadav led from the front with an unbeaten 47, supported by Tilak Varma’s 31 and Abhishek’s explosive 31 off 13 balls. The target was achieved in under 16 overs with seven wickets to spare.
Yet, the cricket itself was overshadowed by what followed. Indian players refused the customary post-match handshake, with Yadav and Shivam Dube choosing to fist-bump and walk off, while the rest of the team greeted only their own dugout. Pakistan’s players, despite the loss, waited on the field for the traditional courtesy that never came.
The incident drew immediate backlash. ACC President and PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi condemned the behaviour as “utterly disappointing” and warned against dragging politics into sport. Former cricketers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Hafeez, TV host Fakhar-e-Alam, and politician Fawad Chaudhry all voiced disapproval, calling the snub an attack on sportsmanship.
While India secured the win, analysts argued that Pakistan held the moral high ground. With the PCB escalating the matter to the ICC and MCC, pressure is mounting on cricket’s governing bodies to address the controversy and preserve the game’s long-cherished traditions.
