The Asia Cup 2025 has seen plenty of drama on the field, but a handshake controversy between India and Pakistan nearly overshadowed the cricket. The issue began on September 14, just minutes before the toss in Dubai. Andy Pycroft, the ICC match referee, was told that there would be no handshake between India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan’s captain Salman Agha.
Pycroft passed on the message, believing he was avoiding an awkward moment. But his actions created confusion, anger, and eventually an official complaint from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). They accused him of misconduct, saying he violated the spirit of cricket in the India vs Pakistan timeline.
The situation quickly escalated, with threats from Pakistan to pull out of the tournament. Meetings, video calls, and late-night negotiations followed, dragging ICC officials into the center of the storm. While the ICC cleared Pycroft of any wrongdoing, the PCB insisted they were unhappy with the decision. The handshake-gate incident revealed not just sporting tensions but also political and organizational stress around one of cricket’s most heated rivalries.
How the Handshake Drama Began?
According to reports, Pycroft only found out about the decision “four minutes before the toss.” The Asian Cricket Council’s venue manager informed him that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), with approval from the Indian government, had instructed that there would be no handshake.
Faced with little time to consult higher officials, Pycroft decided to inform Salman Agha directly. He feared that if Agha walked up for a handshake and was snubbed, it would look far worse in front of millions of viewers. His decision, however, was later interpreted by the PCB as Pycroft himself blocking the handshake.
Within hours of India’s win, the PCB filed a formal complaint with the ICC. They claimed Pycroft had overstepped his role and accused him of failing to maintain respect between the two captains. The board demanded his immediate removal from the tournament.
ICC Clears Pycroft, PCB Stands Firm
The ICC responded quickly, saying Pycroft had done nothing wrong. They explained that he was acting only as a messenger of the ACC’s instructions and had handled the situation professionally under pressure. The ICC also said the real issue was not Pycroft’s role but the fact that the handshake was canceled in the first place.
They reminded the PCB that changing match referees at the demand of a participating nation would create a dangerous precedent. According to the ICC, Pycroft’s actions preserved the dignity of the toss and avoided a public scene.
The PCB, however, was not satisfied. They said the ICC’s review was one-sided and failed to include testimony from Agha or team officials. They insisted that Pycroft should have refused to pass on such an instruction, even if it came from tournament organizers.
Threat of Withdrawal and Emergency Talks
As the controversy grew, the PCB escalated matters further. They threatened to withdraw from the Asia Cup if Pycroft continued as referee for their next match against the UAE on September 17. The Pakistan government reportedly advised the same if the issue was not resolved.
This led to urgent discussions between the ICC, PCB, and Emirates Cricket Board. Two tense video calls were held on match day, with both sides standing firm. Pakistan delayed their travel to the ground, signaling how close they were to walking away.
Finally, a face-to-face meeting between Pycroft, Pakistan captain Salman Agha, head coach Mike Hesson, team manager Naved Cheema, and ICC officials was arranged just before the toss.
Pycroft’s Meeting With Pakistan Team
In the private meeting, Pycroft explained his side. He said he had no role in making the decision and was only passing on the message. He expressed regret that Agha had been put in an awkward situation minutes before a high-pressure game.
Reports suggest that Pycroft’s words were more of an “expression of regret” rather than a direct apology. However, the PCB later issued a statement claiming that he had apologized. They even released a short video clip of the meeting, though it carried no audio.
The ICC was reportedly unhappy about the PCB framing it as an apology but chose not to escalate further. Instead, they stressed once again that Pycroft was not guilty of misconduct.
PCB vs ICC: The Bigger Picture
The disagreement exposed larger tensions between the PCB and ICC. The PCB argued that a match referee cannot simply be a “messenger” for decisions that impact the spirit of the game. They also accused the ICC of protecting its officials without fully listening to Pakistan’s side of the story.
On the other hand, the ICC stood by its referee and stressed the importance of neutrality. They said the matter of handshakes fell outside the referee’s responsibilities and should have been handled by the tournament organizers.
For Pakistan, the controversy also became political. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the country’s interior minister, consulted with former chiefs Najam Sethi and Ramiz Raja before allowing the team to continue in the Asia Cup.
Miscommunication or Misconduct?
At the heart of handshake-gate lies one question: was Pycroft guilty of misconduct, or was it a simple case of miscommunication?
The ICC firmly believes it was the latter. They credit Pycroft with preventing a potential embarrassment during the toss. But the PCB continues to argue that even as a messenger, he should not have gone along with such a directive.
The truth may lie somewhere in between. Pycroft’s actions were made under pressure and with little time. His goal seemed to be avoiding embarrassment, not creating conflict. Yet the fallout showed how sensitive relations are when it comes to India-Pakistan cricket.
Conclusion
The handshake controversy between India and Pakistan at the Asia Cup 2025 shows how even the smallest moments can spark massive drama in cricket’s fiercest rivalry. Andy Pycroft, caught in the middle, found himself accused of misconduct despite acting under instructions.
The ICC cleared him of wrongdoing, while the PCB stood its ground and demanded accountability. Emergency meetings, threats of withdrawal, and political pressure turned the issue into a major standoff. In the end, Pakistan continued their campaign, but trust between the PCB and ICC took a hit.
This incident highlights how off-field politics and tournament management can sometimes overshadow the game itself. For fans, it was another reminder that when India and Pakistan meet, controversies often follow. As the Asia Cup moves on, the hope is that cricket, not handshakes, takes center stage once again.