The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has filed a formal complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) against match referee Andy Pycroft, citing violations of the ICC Code of Conduct and MCC Laws relating to the “Spirit of Cricket” during Sunday’s Asia Cup match between Pakistan and India in Dubai. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi announced the move, demanding Pycroft’s immediate removal from the tournament.
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The highly anticipated clash ended with India securing a seven-wicket victory, thanks to a dominant spin attack led by Kuldeep Yadav and a composed finishing act from captain Suryakumar Yadav, who sealed the match with a six. However, the post-match proceedings took an unexpected turn when the Indian players refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts. This gesture, which Indian captain Suryakumar later confirmed was in line with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and government directives, immediately stirred controversy.
Suryakumar dedicated India’s win to the armed forces, linking it to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Indian-occupied Kashmir, which had escalated tensions between the two nations in May. “We stand with the victims and their families. This win is for the Indian army,” he said in the post-match presentation, while emphasizing that his side had treated the high-stakes encounter as “just another game.”
The refusal to shake hands prompted Pakistan’s team management to register an official protest with the ICC. Pakistan team manager Naveed Akram Cheema criticized the conduct, calling it “against the sportsman spirit,” and further alleged that the match referee had instructed the captains prior to the toss not to engage in handshakes at the end of the match.
In protest, Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha opted out of the post-match ceremony, with coach Mike Hesson later clarifying that the decision was a direct response to India’s actions. “We were obviously keen to engage and shake hands at the end of the match, but that didn’t happen. It was disappointing,” Hesson said, underlining the team’s frustration.
PCB chief Naqvi expressed his displeasure publicly, calling the incident a troubling sign of politics overshadowing sports. “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,” he posted on X.
The controversy has amplified existing political tensions, as New Delhi had earlier accused Pakistan of backing the April 22 Pahalgam attack — a claim Islamabad strongly denies. While India had resisted calls to boycott the Asia Cup, its cricket board had stressed that avoiding international fixtures would harm its ability to host future multinational tournaments.
For Pakistan, the issue now extends beyond a single game. By escalating the matter to the ICC, the PCB is pressing for accountability over what it views as a violation of cricket’s core values — respect, sportsmanship, and camaraderie between players, regardless of political climates.
