Asia Cup 2025: PCB demands removal of match referee after India-Pakistan handshake controversy

The high-stakes Asia Cup 2025 encounter between India and Pakistan may have concluded in a one-sided triumph for India, but the drama surrounding the contest began much earlier. Both captains did not shake hands at the toss, which created controversy. In the post-match proceedings, Indian players still did not shake hands with the Pakistani players and entered the dressing room.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) wasted no time in raising objections. After officially lodging a protest with the ICC match referee over India’s conduct, the PCB further demanded the immediate removal of Andy Pycroft from the panel of referees for the Asia Cup. According to the PCB, Pycroft overstepped his authority by allegedly instructing the captains not to shake hands before the match.

Reports suggest that the PCB has even threatened to boycott its upcoming fixture against the UAE on September 17 if Pycroft remains in charge. The matter has escalated into a full-blown dispute, with the PCB openly criticizing the match referee’s handling of the situation.

PCB’s Stand and Pycroft’s Role

"The PCB has lodged a complaint with the ICC regarding violations by the Match Referee of the ICC Code of Conduct and the MCC Laws pertaining to the Spirit of Cricket. The PCB has demanded an immediate removal of the Match Referee from the Asia Cup," PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said on social media. He added: "Utterly disappointing to witness the lack of sportsmanship today. Dragging politics into the game goes against the very spirit of sports. Let's hope future victories are celebrated by all teams with grace."

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The PCB team management also backed its protest, with manager Naveed Cheema stating: "Team manager Naveed Cheema lodged a strong protest against Indian players' behaviour of not shaking hands. It was deemed as unsporting and against the sport of the game. As a protest we did not send our captain to the post match ceremony." Pycroft, a veteran official on the ICC Elite Panel since 2009, now finds himself at the center of the storm, with his role in the match and decisions under intense scrutiny.