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Updated on: 16 September,2025 01:37 PM IST  |  Mumbai
mid-day online correspondent
Following the ‘no handshake’ incident, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) demanded the immediate removal of match referee Andy Pycroft from the ongoing Asia Cup 2025. The board also accused Pycroft of violating the International Cricket Council (ICC) Code of Conduct during the match.
Pakistan cricket team (Pic: AFP)
In the Asia Cup 2025 match against arch-rivals, Team India, Pakistan suffered a humiliating loss by seven wickets at the Dubai International Stadium.
After the match ended, the Suryakumar Yadav-led Team India did not shake hands with any of the Pakistani players in Dubai. Later, the skipper revealed that it was a collective decision not to shake hands with them.
Following the ‘no handshake’ incident, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) demanded the immediate removal of match referee Andy Pycroft from the ongoing Asia Cup 2025. The board also accused Pycroft of violating the International Cricket Council (ICC) Code of Conduct during the match.
However, the ICC has rejected PCB’s demand to remove the umpire from the panel.
“Late last night, ICC had sent a reply to PCB stating that Pycroft won’t be removed and their plea has been rejected,” an ICC source told PTI.
The 69-year-old Zimbabwean is due to officiate Pakistan’s final group stage game against the UAE on Wednesday.
Pakistan team manager Naved Cheema had also filed a complaint with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) alleging that it was on Pycroft’s insistence that team sheets weren’t exchanged between the two skippers on Sunday, as is the norm.
Additionally, the match went ahead despite widespread calls for a boycott following the unfortunate terror attack in April in Pahalgam. In response to the incident, India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ and reportedly succeeded in destroying terrorist bases across the border in May.
During the match, Pakistan batted first and managed to post a total of 127 runs for the loss of nine wickets. Sahibzada Farhan top-scored with 40 runs off 44 balls, including one boundary and three sixes. Later, Shaheen Shah Afridi provided some late fireworks, playing an unbeaten knock of 33 runs off just 16 deliveries, which included four sixes.
In reply, the Men in Blue comfortably chased down the target, scoring 131 for 3 in 15.5 overs. Abhishek Sharma gave India a blazing start, hammering 31 runs off just 13 balls, including four boundaries and two sixes. Later, Suryakumar anchored the chase with a composed, unbeaten 47 off 37 balls, featuring five fours and one six.
(With PTI Inputs)
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