The Asia Cup 2025 matches between India and Pakistan ended on 14 September, but away from the field, the play is growing up every day. India’s simple No-Handshek Act has now turned into one of the most sensational controversies of the tournament.
Now, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), International Cricket Council (ICC), and match referee, Andy Picroft, are at the center of this infamous saga. All this started on 15 September, when PCB sent its first email to ICC.
He claimed that the code of conduct was not followed during the toss, as Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistani captain Salman Ali Agga did not shook hands. The PCB questioned the role of Andy Picroft directly as he asked Salman Ali Agha not to shake hands with Suryakumar Yadav.
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PCB in war with ICC on Asia Cup 2025 drama
The ICC immediately reviewed itself and replied that Pycroft had done nothing wrong. The governing body stated that Pycroft was only following the instructions of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), which is actually led by PCB President Mohsin Naqvi.
Also: ACC ASIA Cup 2025 Fiasco Emergency AGM, BCCI candidate on agenda after block
The ICC also said that Pycroft cleverly handled the moment and ensured that no strange situation was shown on Live TV. But PCB was not happy with this answer. They went one step further and demanded that Pycroft should be removed from the removal of Pakistan’s matches in the 2025 Asia Cup.
To heat things more, he also threatened that Pakistan would withdraw from the tournament if his demand was ignored. Well, the ICC stood strong and made it clear that Pycroft had not broken any rules and the authorities could not be changed just because a team was unhappy.
ICC demands evidence because PCB handsheck expands the dispute
Then, on 17 September, the handshake drama took a new turn. PCB sent another email along with new claims. For the first two days, all his complaints were about the toss. But now, he alleged that there were violations during and after the match, targeted Pycroft once again.
Responding to Pakistan’s new allegations, the ICC asked him to share the appropriate evidence to support his claims that there were violations between India and Pakistan during and later during the group match. But PCB has not sent anything concrete to the ICC so far.
The ICC is still waiting for evidence from PCB that can prove their claims against Pycroft, Mohsin Naqvi kept her lips harassing her.
Read also: After Andy Picroft, Suryakumar Yadav comes on PCB radar
ICC CEO Sanjog Gupt refused to change the rules as the last minute stunt backfire of PCB
Meanwhile, just before Pakistan’s game against the United Arab Emirates, the Pakistan Board stopped the team from boarding the bus at the stadium at the last moment. This led to an hour back and forth interaction between PCB, ICC and ACC and the match delayed about an hour.
PCB president Mohsin Naqvi and COO Salman Naseer represented Pakistan, while the ICC side was handled by his new CEO, Sanjog Gupta during these hot discussions. Gupta made it clear that without evidence, there was no reason to remove the packet, and the ICC would not compromise its standards.
Finally, the dangers of PCB did not work. Their demand for removing Pycroft was rejected, their return warning flat, and the match referee continues to continue the matches at the Continental event. The ICC stood firmly and ensured that the rules were not bent under pressure.
