By ABDULLAH 
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has sparked major controversy at the Asia Cup 2025, warning it could pull out of the tournament if match referee Andy Pycroft is not removed. The row began after Indian players refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts following Sunday’s high-voltage clash in Dubai, escalating into a full-blown diplomatic and sporting standoff.
Tensions flared after the Pakistan vs India group-stage match, where Pakistan’s batting collapse left them short on runs and India secured a comfortable victory. But the drama truly began after the game when Indian players walked off the field without the customary handshakes.
Earlier, both captains Pakistan’s Salman Ali Agha and India’s Suryakumar Yadav had also avoided shaking hands at the toss. According to Pakistan’s team management, this was done on the advice of match referee Andy Pycroft. However, Pycroft reportedly gave no such instructions for post-match handshakes, leaving the PCB furious over what it termed as a “serious breach of sportsmanship.”
Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson condemned the incident, calling it “against the spirit of cricket.” Team manager Naveed Akram Cheema lodged a formal protest, stressing that respect and sportsmanship cannot be compromised, especially in a tournament watched by millions across the globe.
The controversy deepened when Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav made politically charged remarks after the win. He dedicated the victory to the Indian armed forces and victims of the Pahalgam attack, saying, “We stand with the victims and their families. This win is for our armed forces.”
This statement drew immediate backlash in Pakistan, with many accusing India of politicizing the sport. Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha even skipped the post-match presentation ceremony in protest, a move defended by Coach Hesson as a “natural response” to India’s inappropriate behavior.
In response, the PCB escalated the matter, formally writing to both the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). The board demanded Pycroft’s removal, accusing him of neglecting his duties and violating both the ICC Code of Conduct and MCC laws.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi took a firm stance during high-level meetings at the board’s headquarters in Lahore. He said India was trying to “give cricket a political colour” and damaging the image of the gentleman’s game. Naqvi declared that Pakistan would raise its voice at every international forum and warned that Pakistan could withdraw from the Asia Cup if the issue was not resolved.
Interestingly, the crisis has also shaken things within the PCB. Chairman Naqvi suspended Director of Operations Usman Wahla for failing to respond promptly to the ICC on the matter. A formal inquiry has been launched, and Wahla’s future with the board will be decided based on the findings of the report.
Sources revealed that Naqvi was furious over the delayed response and instructed officials to adopt a more aggressive approach in defending Pakistan’s stance internationally. “There will be no compromise on this matter,” he reportedly told the management team.
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has acknowledged Pakistan’s complaint and is said to be considering disciplinary action against the Indian team. However, no final decision has been announced yet.
The incident has only added more fuel to the already intense cricket rivalry between India and Pakistan. For fans, it’s no longer just about runs and wickets it has become a battle over respect, pride, and national dignity.
For millions of Pakistanis, cricket is more than just a game. It is tied to identity, national pride, and unity. Many fans feel disrespected by India’s refusal to shake hands, interpreting it as an insult not only to the players but also to the country as a whole.
As one fan in Lahore put it: “We can tolerate losing a match, but we cannot accept disrespect. Cricket is about sportsmanship, and if India cannot respect the spirit of the game, then Pakistan is right to stand its ground.”
With emotions running high, all eyes are now on the ICC and ACC to see how they will handle the matter. Will Pakistan really walk out of the Asia Cup? Or will the dispute be resolved behind closed doors?
For now, the Asia Cup has become about much more than cricket.