Pakistan Threatens to Boycott UAE Match Over Asia Cup Referee
PCB Demands Removal of Andy Pycroft After Handshake Controversy with India
- PCB threatens to skip UAE match if Andy Pycroft stays as referee.
- Controversy stems from India-Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 handshake incident.
- PCB complains to ICC citing violations of Spirit of Cricket and MCC laws.
- Referee Pycroft apologised for not informing Pakistan team of handshake protocol.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 15th Sept: Pakistan has threatened to boycott their Asia Cup 2025 match against UAE if match referee Andy Pycroft is not removed from the ongoing tournament, Cricbuzz reported. The row erupted after India captain Suryakumar Yadav did not shake hands with Pakistan counterpart Salman Ali Agha following Sunday’s match, in which India won by seven wickets. Indian players also did not shake hands with any Pakistan players.
Initially, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) lodged a complaint with the match referee regarding Team India’s conduct. However, they now demand Pycroft’s removal, alleging he failed to act on their protest. The PCB has warned that they will not play the match against UAE on Tuesday if the Zimbabwean referee remains in charge.
PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi, who is currently heading the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), formally complained to the ICC, citing violations of the ICC Code of Conduct and the MCC Laws concerning the Spirit of Cricket. “The PCB has demanded the immediate removal of the Match Referee from the Asia Cup,” Naqvi said on social media platform X.
ACC sources said that Pycroft forgot to inform Pakistan players about the ‘no handshake’ protocol at the end of the match and later apologised. The PCB, in a late-night statement in Urdu, called the referee’s decision “against sportsmanship” and confirmed that team manager Naveed Akram Cheema lodged a formal protest with the ICC.
Naqvi added on X: “Utterly disappointing to witness the lack of sportsmanship. Dragging politics into the game goes against the very spirit of sports. Let’s hope future victories are celebrated by all teams with grace.” The ICC has not yet issued a public response.
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