Handshake Row: Pak Wants Match Referee Removal

The Pakistan Cricket Board has demanded the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft, alleging a violation of the ICC Code of Conduct in their match against India. PCB and Asian Cricket Council head Mohsin Naqvi tweeted the development on Monday afternoon, September 15.

The drama-filled match between India and Pakistan saw skipper Suryakumar Yadav not shake hands with his opposition counterpart, Salman Ali Agha, at the toss. Neither did the Indian players shake hands with the Pakistani side at the end of the game. Pycroft asked Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha to avoid shaking hands with his Indian counterpart Suryakumar Yadav during the toss.

Mohsin Naqvi shared the news of the development on social media. His post on X (formerly Twitter) read: "The PCB has lodged a complaint with the ICC regarding violations by the Match Referee of the ICC Code of Conduct and the MCC Laws pertaining to the Spirit of Cricket. The PCB has demanded the immediate removal of the Match Referee from the Asia Cup."

Earlier, Asian Cricket Council sources said that the match referee forgot to tell the Pakistan players of the 'no handshake' protocol at the end of the match. He even apologised to the Pakistan team for this mistake.

The PCB, in a late-night statement released in Urdu to domestic media, described Pycroft's decision as "against sportsmanship" and said team manager Naveed Akram Cheema registered a "formal protest against the match referee's behavior" with the International Cricket Council. The ICC is yet to issue a public response.

Suryakumar, who hit the winning runs for India, didn't wait for the customary handshakes with opposing players after the match before walking to the dressing room along with his teammate Shivam Dube.

Agha reacted by skipping a post-match TV interview with former India international cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar, a move which Pakistan coach Mike Hesson described as a "follow-on effect."