PCB Lodges Protest with ICC, MCC Over ‘No Handshake’ in Pakistan-India Clash

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially lodged a complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) following the controversial ‘no handshake’ incident during the Pakistan-India Asia Cup 2025 clash in Dubai.

In a statement on X, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also heads the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), confirmed that the board has demanded the “immediate removal of the match referee” Andy Pycroft, who oversaw the high-voltage encounter.

“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,” Naqvi stated.

Naqvi also criticized the lack of sportsmanship displayed by the Indian side. “Dragging politics into the game goes against the very spirit of sports. Let’s hope future victories are celebrated by all teams with grace,” he added.

India defeated Pakistan by seven wickets while chasing a target of 128 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. During the toss, Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav refused to shake hands with Pakistan’s Salman Ali Agha, reportedly on the instructions of the match referee. After the match, Indian players and staff also declined to exchange handshakes with the Pakistani team.

In the post-match presentation, Yadav dedicated the victory to the Indian armed forces, saying, “We stand with the victims of the families of the Pahalgam terror attack, and we express our solidarity.” He later told reporters that the decision was aligned with the BCCI and the Indian government.

According to reports, the PCB has also sent a detailed letter to Asia Cup tournament director Andrew Russell, calling the incident a “serious violation of the ICC Code of Conduct and MCC rules.” The board alleged that Pycroft’s actions were against the “spirit of the game” and harmed cricket’s integrity.

The Spirit of Cricket emphasizes respect for opponents, umpires, and the game itself, while the ICC Code of Conduct requires players to demonstrate mutual respect, including customary post-match handshakes.