Veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin slammed Pakistan to target the match referee Andy Picroft on the Handshek controversy after Team India’s group-phase victory in the Asia Cup 2025. Ashwin also said that Pakistan should focus on improving its game instead of demanding the removal of Picroft.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) filed a formal complaint with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and ICC demanding the removal of Andy Picroft from the Asian Cup. Suryakumar Yadav avoided a handshake with Salman Ali Aga in the toss. After the match, Indian players also joined hands with Pakistan players.
Andy Pycroft actually saved everyone – Ravichandran Ashwin
Speaking on the weight of his YouTube show Ash, Ravichandran Ashwin defended Andy Pycroft on the No-Handshek controversy. He said that Pakistan made unnecessary drama and said that the referee prevented the situation from turning into a bad spectacle.
“Andy Pycroft really saved everyone from watching such a bad spectacle. India already informed the match referee – this is our decision, and we will follow it. This is,” Ashwin said.
He said, “After all this drama, you lost the match. So what are you complaining about?
Andy Pycroft IS not a school student – Ravichandran Ashwin
Pakistan released a video of a meeting with banned players and match referee Andy Pikeroft in the sector (PMOA). The ICC dismissed the demands of the PCB and confirmed the Pycroft as the match referee for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 Super Four Clash between India and Pakistan in Dubai.
Ravichandran Ashwin said that Pakistan incorrectly targeted Picroft on the issue of joining hands. He said that the referee cannot force players to join hands. Ashwin said that Pycroft had not done anything wrong and the sacrifice of sacrifice should not be made for this incident.
“If any handshake was not your problem with India, why were you looking for a response to that problem in the UAE game? Why did you have to make Andy Picroft a sacrifice of sacrifices? He has not done anything wrong,” Ashwin said.
“He is not a school student. He is not a principal. He cannot go and can not bring Surya and say, ‘Come hand shake’. This is not his job. It is not his job. They said
The case should end there – Ravichandran Ashwin
Ashwin said that Indian players followed a instruction from BCCI. He said that the cricketers had clearly communicated his stance and the matter should be considered closed.
“Whether it is a corporate office, a government firm, or a cricket team – when there is an organizational instruction, you follow it. Our players were clear: they were to represent India here, and they followed the protocol. The cricketers also communicated their stance – he said,” We don’t want to join hands. ” This is our side of the story.
India will face Pakistan again in the Super Four Stage of the Asia Cup on Sunday, 21 September. India won seven wickets in their last match. He limited Pakistan to 127/9 and then chased the target comfortably.
Team India is expected to maintain their no-handwashing stance, and men in Blue will expect to start a super for-stage on a strong note.
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