Handshake snub sparks PCB protest

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has demanded the immediate removal of match referee Andy Pycroft from the ongoing Asia Cup, accusing him of violating the ICC Code of Conduct and undermining the spirit of the game during Pakistan’s high-voltage clash against India.

The controversy erupted when Indian players declined to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts after the match, which India won by seven wickets. According to the PCB, Pycroft instructed both captains India’s Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan’s Salman Ali Agha to skip the customary handshake at the toss, setting the stage for the post-match snub that has since escalated into a diplomatic flashpoint.

PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also heads the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), confirmed that a formal complaint has been lodged with the ICC. “The PCB has demanded the immediate removal of the Match Referee from the Asia Cup,” Naqvi posted on X. Pakistan had already lodged a strong protest with the ACC, describing India’s conduct as “unsporting” and boycotting the post-match presentation ceremony.

India has justified the decision, with skipper Suryakumar Yadav stating the move was a mark of solidarity with families of the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 Indian lives in May. The encounter was the first between the arch-rivals since the attack and India’s retaliatory strikes across the border.

With the two teams likely to meet again in the tournament, tensions around the “No Handshake” policy could deepen further.