The Match referee of the India vs Pakistan game in the Asia Cup 2025, Andy Pycroft, has finally broken his silence on the handshake row controversy. He has apologized for having forgotten to inform the Pakistan National Cricket Team that the no-handshake protocol will continue throughout the match.
The denial of a handshake, which occurred during the start of the match, seemed mutual since both skippers were informed of the protocol. However, the Pakistani players were left baffled when the Indian batters, after the conclusion of the chase, left the field for the dressing room without waiting for the formal handshake.
The rules of the ICC Preamble for the Spirit of the Game suggest that the players should shake hands and congratulate their opponents for their performance, and should celebrate their own as well.
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Match Referee Andy Pycroft apologised to the Pakistan Team for his blunder
The Indian skipper, Suryakumar Yadav, was pre-informed, alongside Salman Agha, the Pakistani skipper, of the protocol change to not shake hands during the coin toss at the start of the game.
However, the match referee, Andy Pycroft, who had informed Salman Agha of the changed protocol at the time of the toss, failed to inform the skipper of the continuation of the protocol for the rest of the game.
A report in NDTV has revealed that due to Andy Pycroft not informing the Pakistan captain of the no-handshake protocol throughout the match, the goof-up occurred. The Indian players went straight into the dressing room, leaving the Pakistani players baffled.
The same report has confirmed that Andy Pycroft apologised to the PCB and the Pakistan National Cricket Team for his failure to inform them of the post-match protocols.
PCB’s actions due to the lack of cricketing spirit on the field
Upset with the incidents that happened after the chase concluded in the Dubai International Stadium, the PCB issued a statement late in the night claiming India’s actions to be against the spirit of the game.
“Team manager Naveed Cheema lodged a strong protest against the Indian players’ behaviour of not shaking hands. It was deemed as unsporting and against the spirit of the game. As a protest, we did not send our captain to the post-match ceremony,” read a PCB statement.
On the post-match affairs, the PCB further said, “The match referee, Andy Pycroft, had asked captain Salman Ali Agha, at the time of the toss, not to shake hands with his Indian counterpart. The Pakistan team management has lodged a protest, calling the behaviour against the spirit of sports.”
More India vs Pakistan games on cards
It would be interesting to see whether the decisions of the two teams change with advancement into the Asia Cup. India and Pakistan are expected to play against each other several times in this Asia Cup. They have once played in the Group-stage game, and if they qualify for the Super-4 or the semi-finals, then they might face India again.
However, if the PCB Chief stands on his claim to deny playing in the next Asia Cup fixture against the UAE, it would toughen Pakistan’s chances of making it to the Super-4 stage.
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