ICC and ACC Reject Pakistan Cricket Board’s Demand for Disciplinary Action Against Indian Players in Handshake Controversy.
SNPNEWS.IN Cricket Update, Sep 25: The Pakistan cricket team often makes headlines more for controversies than for their performance on the field. Recently, during a league match in Dubai, the Indian captain and team ignoring Pakistani players and leaving for the dressing room without shaking hands became a topic of discussion. Following this incident, Pakistan’s captain, Salman Agha, did not attend the post-match press conference as a form of silent protest, which Pakistan’s coach Mike Hesson termed a “flow-on effect.”
Shaheen Shah Afridi was the only Pakistani player present at the occasion, receiving an award for hitting the most sixes in the match. Head coach Mike Hesson was the main speaker at the event, expressing disappointment over the Indian team’s refusal to shake hands, stating that the Pakistani team was ready, but India did not reciprocate.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) issued an official statement, calling the incident “against sportsmanship” and lodged a formal protest against match referee Andy Pycroft through team manager Naveed Akram Cheema. This controversy is linked to the Pishin attack (April 2025), which prompted India’s decision.
Match referee Andy Pycroft had advised both captains (Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistani captain Salman Agha) before the toss not to shake hands, in line with Indian government policy. However, Pakistan was not fully informed about this. The Indian players also did not shake hands after the match and headed to the dressing room, leaving the Pakistani players surprised, as the referee had not clarified that this protocol would apply throughout the match. According to Asia Cricket Council (ACC) sources, Pycroft forgot to inform the Pakistan team about this.
The PCB, through team manager Naveed Akram Cheema, lodged a formal complaint against referee Pycroft, calling it “against sportsmanship” and a violation of the ICC Code of Conduct. The PCB demanded that the ICC remove Pycroft from the Asia Cup.
Pakistan threatened to boycott their match against the UAE (September 17, 2025). The team stayed at their hotel, causing the match to start late at 9 PM IST. Ultimately, due to the fear of a $16 million fine and pressure from the ICC, they agreed to play.Match referee Andy Pycroft apologized to the Pakistani captain and manager over the phone, calling it a “miscommunication.” The ICC promised an investigation.
The ICC removed Pycroft from Pakistan’s remaining matches and appointed Richie Richardson as the new referee. While the ICC rejected the PCB’s full demands, it took steps to resolve the controversy.