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ICC Reveals Real Reason Behind Pycroft Asking IND-PAK Players To Not Shake Hands
Follow UsThe Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav did not shake hands with his Pakistan counterpart, Salman Ali Agha, even at toss
Though the debate around the ‘no handshake’ approach by the Indian team in the league stage game against Pakistan in Asia Cup 2025, is not dying easily, relief has come to the Indian camp thanks to a latest statement by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
After the Pakistan team lodged an official complaint against match referee, Andy Pycroft, for facilitating India in avoiding a handshake with Pakistan team players after the match, the ICC replied to it.
Not only did the ICC refuse to remove Pycroft as a match referee in the tournament, cancelling Pakistan’s request, the international sport governing body also blamed the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) for creating the unnecessary ruckus.
“It was actually the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) officials on the ground who informed Pycroft about the no-handshake policy at the toss. This revelation counters Pakistan's earlier belief that Pycroft was acting under Indian influence,” The Times of India quoted ICC as saying.
Earlier, Pakistan, even after the Indian dressing room doors were closed for its coach, Mike Hesson, and the team, with India already avoiding hand shakes at the toss and after the match, complained to the ICC.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) wrote, “It is alarming to note that an ICC-appointed and supposedly neutral match referee opted to indulge in conduct which clearly violates the Spirit of Cricket and MCC Laws.”
India and Pakistan could be up against each other two more times if both teams manage to reach the final of the battle of continental supremacy.