The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) issued an official statement confirming that match referee Andy Pycroft apologised to the Pakistan team and captain Salman Ali Agha over the no-handshake controversy during the India-Pakistan Asia Cup clash.
PCB Claims Apology from Match Referee Pycroft Amid Handshake Controversy
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday announced that match referee Andy Pycroft apologised for his role in the Asia Cup Group A clash between India and Pakistan, where players from both sides did not exchange post-match handshakes. The high-voltage contest was played against the backdrop of the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, further fueling tensions.
Despite PCB’s attempts to have Pycroft removed ahead of their fixture against the UAE, the International Cricket Council (ICC) refused to take such action. Instead, the senior official remained in charge of the game, which was delayed by an hour amid continued drama.
In its official statement, the PCB claimed that Pycroft admitted his decision was the result of a “miscommunication” and personally apologised to Pakistan’s captain and team manager. The board also revealed that the ICC had agreed to investigate a potential Code of Conduct breach during the India-Pakistan encounter at the Dubai International Stadium on September 14.
🚨 Video clip of match referee Andy Pycroft apologising to Pakistan’s manager and captain. pic.twitter.com/VnBKM6ePBa
— Ihtisham Ul Haq (@iihtishamm) September 17, 2025
No handshakes were exchanged between players from either side during the Group A encounter between India and Pakistan. Even at the toss, captains Suryakumar Yadav and Salman Agha deliberately kept their distance, avoiding eye contact. What initially appeared as tense formality escalated into controversy, as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) strongly objected to the entire chain of events, turning the saga into a major flashpoint of the tournament.
PCB writes to the ICC
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) escalated its protests by writing to the ICC twice, demanding the removal of Andy Pycroft as match referee for the rest of the eight-team tournament. Both requests were rejected by the global governing body.
The drama continued on Wednesday when the PCB delayed its arrival at the stadium ahead of the fixture against the UAE, sparking speculation that Pakistan might withdraw altogether. The match was eventually pushed back by an hour as PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi held discussions with former chiefs Ramiz Raja and Najam Sethi before confirming that Pakistan would go ahead with the game.
Adding to the uncertainty, the Pakistan team cancelled their scheduled pre-match press conference on Tuesday. While the players did attend a training session, the media interaction was scrapped at the last moment.