ICC’s match referee Andy Pycroft has apologised to Pakistan cricket team captain Salman Ali Agha and manager following handshake row after the India clash during Asia Cup 2025. In a statement, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed the development, saying that match referee Pycroft has apologised to the manager and captain of the Pakistan cricket team. “Pycroft termed the September 14 incident a result of miscommunication and apologised,” it said, adding that the International Cricket Council (ICC) has expressed its willingness to conduct an inquiry into the code of conduct violation. Addressing a press conference after the referee’s apology, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi urged the nation to support the team. He added that the board had requested the ICC to conduct an inquiry into the violations that occurred during the Pakistan-India match. Naqvi said he had also consulted former PCB chairmen Najam Sethi and Ramiz Raja over the matter. “I thank Allah that the honour of Pakistan has been upheld,” he remarked, expressing hope that the national side would now perform and deliver on the field. Former chairman Sethi reiterated that the PCB’s consistent stance has been that politics should not be brought into sport. His successor, Raja, termed the development a victory for Pakistan, urging that the team now prove itself through performance. “Cricket should remain cricket and not be turned into a political platform,” Raja said, adding that the focus must now return to the game itself. He stressed that any hurt sentiments must be left behind and all attention directed towards performance on the field. Raja also criticised Pycroft, alleging that he had been a “fixed referee” for the Indian team, pointing out that Pycroft had officiated in more than 90 of India’s matches. Following the apology, Pakistan captain Agha joined UAE skipper Muhammad Waseem on the pitch for the toss. The Pakistan cricket team reached Dubai International Cricket Stadium on the instructions of PCB Chairman Naqvi. The squad, initially told to remain at their hotel, eventually departed after clearance from the board. After the clearance from the cricket board, the national cricketers were seen boarding the team bus in high spirits. PCB advisor Amir Mir later confirmed that the fixture had been delayed by an hour amid a row involving match referee Andy Pycroft. The board announced that the match would begin at 8:30pm (PST), with the toss scheduled for 8pm. The controversy stems from the Pakistan–India clash on September 14, when both captains skipped the customary handshake at the toss — an omission reportedly directed by Pycroft — prompting tensions between the PCB and the match referee. PCB pens second letter to ICCEarlier, the sources said that the PCB penned another letter to the ICC over the latter’s refusal to accept its demand for Pycroft’s removal from the Asia Cup 2025 Taking a firm stand on the issue, the PCB has rejected the ICC’s decision not to take action against the match referee. The board, as per the sources, has refused to play matches supervised by Pycroft and is standing on its decision to boycott the matches if its demands are not met. Furthermore, the PCB has termed the ICC’s inquiry against the match referee as a mere formality, stressing that neither all aspects were examined for inquiry nor were relevant people contacted. In its letter, the PCB said that Pakistan will agree to play after all its reservations are addressed, and a formal announcement of acceptance of the demand is made. Highlighting ICC’s increasing woes, the sources said that the cricketing authority has no choice but to remove the umpire from Pakistani matches after Pakistan’s tough stance. Sources also said that the PCB has not received any response from the ICC on its demand so far. Handshake controversyNot only did the Indian skipper avoid handshake at the toss, but he repeated the same after the match ended, when the players of the opposing teams are supposed to shake hands as per cricketing tradition. While the Indian players congratulated each other at the dugout after the match, they refrained from acknowledging or shaking hands with the Pakistani team. Pakistan’s players lined up expecting the customary handshake, only to see the Indian team retreat and close the dressing room doors. Later, India’s victorious captain, Suryakumar, defended his team’s decision not to shake hands with the Pakistan players, saying that it was taken in alignment with their government and cricket board. The move prompted a strong reaction from the cricketing fraternity as well as Mohsin Naqvi, who heads both the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and is also the serving head of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). Not only did Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha, in protest, refused to attend the post-match presentation ceremony, breaking from broadcast norms where captains usually share their thoughts, the PCB has filed a formal complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), calling for the removal of match referee Pycroft from the ongoing Asia Cup 2025 — for reportedly instructing the omission of the customary handshake.
Asia Cup: Controversial Andy Pycroft apologises to Pakistan after India handshake row
