LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board has lodged a complaint with the International Cricket Council and the Marylebone Cricket Club demanding the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft from the Asia Cup 2025. The protest follows the absence of a handshake between Pakistan and India captains at the toss, reportedly on Pycroft’s instructions.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said in a statement on X that the directive violated the ICC Code of Conduct and the MCC laws. He called it a breach of the spirit of cricket and stressed that nothing mattered more than the honour and prestige of the country.
The controversy deepened after India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav, who scored an unbeaten 47 to seal victory, walked off with his teammates without acknowledging the Pakistani players. Pakistan’s side had lined up for the customary handshake, but the Indian players returned to the dressing room instead.
Head coach Mike Hesson confirmed that Pakistan’s squad had been waiting for the gesture, which did not occur. In response, captain Salman Ali Agha refused to appear at the post-match presentation ceremony, breaking from normal broadcast protocol.
Naqvi, who also heads the Asian Cricket Council, condemned the incident as dragging politics into cricket. He urged teams to celebrate victories with grace rather than division.
Pakistan’s media manager Naveed Akram Cheema recorded a formal protest with Pycroft after the match. The team management later said the conduct of the Indian players went against sportsmanship, which was why Agha did not attend the ceremony.
Suryakumar defended his team’s decision not to shake hands, saying it aligned with the Indian government and cricket board. He argued that some matters were above sportsmanship and that their stance was a deliberate choice.
The issue had surfaced earlier at the toss, where both skippers skipped the handshake. The PCB continues to press for Pycroft’s immediate removal from the tournament.
