Handshake to Humiliation: Pakistan’s Boycott Drama – The Full Saga Revealed
Let's take a look at the full story of how Pakistan started the controversy around handshake refusal of the Indian side during the Asia Cup 2025 clash before facing humiliation during the fixture against the UAE.
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By the end of September 14, there was controversy over India’s decision to refuse handshaking with the Pakistan players after the end of the clash at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the Men’s Asia Cup 2025. Soon after nailing the winning shot, Suryakumar Yadav decided to walk off the field with his partner, Shivam Dube.
The rest of the Blue Brigade went upstairs and locked themselves in the room. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) didn’t attend the post-match press conference and sent their captain, Salman Ali Agha, for the post-match presentation due to the presence of Sanjay Manjrekar, an Indian, going through the proceedings.
On the very next morning, the PCB sent a letter to the International Cricket Council (ICC) against the unsporting behavior of the Indian side and against the Match referee, Andy Pycroft, who, reportedly, asked Salman not to shake hands with Sky. They also called for the removal of the match referee from the rest of the tournament. Otherwise, they would not participate in the event.
Pakistan’s full saga from handshake controversy drama to Humiliation in Asia Cup 2025
Later, on the morning of September 17, following the clash between the Pakistan and United Arab Emirates (UAE) sides, the PCB sent a second letter with a request to the ICC to remove Pycroft from their games. The ICC, however, found no reason to change the referee and refused to accept the request.
As a result, the team acted as if they would forfeit the clash right at the toss after the players were asked to stay back in the hotel and rest. Then, out of nowhere, they got a call to get off and head towards the stadium. The poor players were treated like scapegoats. The PCB chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, had two different moods as he held a press conference with Ramiz Raja in Lahore. The game got delayed by an hour, but there was no dignity.
Suryakumar Yadav dedicated India’s victory to their Armed Forces and the Pahalgam victims, who had triggered the PCB the most. And after 96 hours of drama, the result was pure embarrassment for the Pakistan side. It’s like selling tickets in black for an empty theater. They have now qualified for the Super 4 stage and will meet India in Dubai on September 21. If they lose, expect another such dramatic week.
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