[WATCH] Ravichandran Ashwin criticizes PCB's drama around handshake controversy and Andy Pycroft in Asia Cup 2025
Watch the video where the former Indian spin all-rounder, Ravichandran Ashwin, has ripped apart the drama of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) around the handshake controversy and match referee, Andy Pycroft.
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On the morning of the India vs Pakistan clash of the Super 4 fixture in the 2025 season of the Asia Cup at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, the former Indian off-spin all-rounder, Ravichandran Ashwin, has ripped apart the drama of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) regarding the match referee, Andy Pycroft.
It started from the group-stage encounter of the tournament when India’s captain, Suryakumar Yadav, decided to refuse a handshake with the Pakistan players at the toss and continued the same trend by the end of the encounter, while nailing the winning six, and walked off the field.
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“Cricketers said that they didn’t want to shake hands. That’s our part of the story. It ended there. Now, you are saying that Andy Pycroft should have lifted the spirit of the game. Bro, is he the school teacher or a principal? Can he go out and fully force Surya to shake hands with Salman Agha? Not nah? That’s what teachers do in the school.” Ashwin expressed during the recent interaction.
Watch: Ravichandran Ashwin rips apart PCB for handshake controversy ahead of Asia Cup 2025 clash
In the group-stage game, Kuldeep Yadav and other Indian premier spinners’ fine bowling helped India to restrict Pakistan to a low score before Abhishek Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav chased down the target quite comfortably. India remained unbeaten throughout their group stage of the competition.
“I don’t understand what the mistake of Pycroft is here. You have filed the complaint against India, and there will be people who will defend India. They can’t do that to the ICC or the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). So, they decided to go after Pycroft. Poor fellow.” Ashwin explained in the video.
“Now, they said that Pycroft had already said sorry for his behavior. But that’s also out of my mind. What would he say? What would be his statement here? I am sorry because Surya didn’t want to shake hands, and India wanted to follow that. There was little banter. Salman Ali refused the press conference. It should have ended there.” The former Indian spinner concluded.
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