The 2025 Asia Cup has garnered enough attention to become the most-watched ongoing cricket series. The row around the Pakistan Team, which urged the governing body (ICC) to immediately release its match referee, Andy Pycroft, over the ‘handshake saga’ during the India Group game, seems to have grown, with former Pakistan captain and PCB chairman, Ramiz Raja, openly accusing Pycroft of being India’s favourite.&nbsp;&nbsp;The mounting tensions at the continental tournament saw the PCB threatening to boycott the UAE game and the Asia Cup (as a whole); even though they decided against doing so following closed-door discussions with all parties concerned, Pakistan beating the UAE helped them set a date with their arch-rival on Sunday (Sep 21) in Dubai.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asia-cup-2025-pak-pacer-rauf-says-pcb-s-drama-on-pycroft-not-in-my-control-1758168028264">Asia Cup 2025: Pak pacer Rauf says PCB's drama on Pycroft ‘not in my control’</a>&nbsp;Ahead of their last group game against the venue hosts on Wednesday (Sep 17), the PCB asked the Pakistani side to stay back at their team hotel, demanding Pycroft’s removal following their fallout from their high-octane game against India. The PCB also cancelled their pre-game presser, urging the organisers to postpone the game unless their demands are met.&nbsp; &nbsp;However, nothing worked, as the ICC refused their demands, with Pakistan agreeing to face the UAE while Pycroft retained his place as the match referee. &nbsp;Meanwhile, speaking at a joint presser with the PCB chairman and ACC chief, Mohsin Naqvi, Raja didn’t mince his words while accusing Pycroft of being Team India’s favourite, saying, “What’s interesting is… Andy Pycroft is the favourite [for the Indians]. Whenever I host tosses, he’s always a permanent fixture over there. This is something blatant for me because, though I thought he had refereed several matches, the stats seemingly show something one-sided. &nbsp;“It should not be like this. This is a neutral platform, which is why there are referees and match officials. However, I felt that he was fixed there. But I hope that better sense prevails,” he added.<h3>The breach, the apology and everything else in between</h3>According to the PCB, Pycroft had directly indicated to the two captains (Suryakumar Yadav from India and Salman Agha from Pakistan) that they should not shake hands at any time before, during, or after the game, urging the board to step in and seek a formal investigation into this. &nbsp;Taking to its social media handle X, the PCB said, “ICC’s controversial match referee Andy Pycroft has apologised to the manager and captain of the Pakistani cricket team… The ICC has expressed its readiness to investigate the violation of the Code of Conduct.” &nbsp;The ICC, however, denied any such claims, adding that no formal investigation had been initiated and that Pycroft was not found guilty of any breach. The apology, which they stressed, was due to the venue manager’s error.

The mounting tensions at the continental tournament saw the PCB threatening to boycott the UAE game and the Asia Cup (as a whole). 

The 2025 Asia Cup has garnered enough attention to become the most-watched ongoing cricket series. The row around the Pakistan Team, which urged the governing body (ICC) to immediately release its match referee, Andy Pycroft, over the ‘handshake saga’ during the India Group game, seems to have grown, with former Pakistan captain and PCB chairman, Ramiz Raja, openly accusing Pycroft of being India’s favourite. The mounting tensions at the continental tournament saw the PCB threatening to boycott the UAE game and the Asia Cup (as a whole); even though they decided against doing so following closed-door discussions with all parties concerned, Pakistan beating the UAE helped them set a date with their arch-rival on Sunday (Sep 21) in Dubai. Also read | Asia Cup 2025: Pak pacer Rauf says PCB's drama on Pycroft ‘not in my control’ Ahead of their last group game against the venue hosts on Wednesday (Sep 17), the PCB asked the Pakistani side to stay back at their team hotel, demanding Pycroft’s removal following their fallout from their high-octane game against India. The PCB also cancelled their pre-game presser, urging the organisers to postpone the game unless their demands are met. However, nothing worked, as the ICC refused their demands, with Pakistan agreeing to face the UAE while Pycroft retained his place as the match referee. Meanwhile, speaking at a joint presser with the PCB chairman and ACC chief, Mohsin Naqvi, Raja didn’t mince his words while accusing Pycroft of being Team India’s favourite, saying, “What’s interesting is… Andy Pycroft is the favourite [for the Indians]. Whenever I host tosses, he’s always a permanent fixture over there. This is something blatant for me because, though I thought he had refereed several matches, the stats seemingly show something one-sided. “It should not be like this. This is a neutral platform, which is why there are referees and match officials. However, I felt that he was fixed there. But I hope that better sense prevails,” he added. The breach, the apology and everything else in between According to the PCB, Pycroft had directly indicated to the two captains (Suryakumar Yadav from India and Salman Agha from Pakistan) that they should not shake hands at any time before, during, or after the game, urging the board to step in and seek a formal investigation into this. Taking to its social media handle X, the PCB said, “ICC’s controversial match referee Andy Pycroft has apologised to the manager and captain of the Pakistani cricket team… The ICC has expressed its readiness to investigate the violation of the Code of Conduct.” The ICC, however, denied any such claims, adding that no formal investigation had been initiated and that Pycroft was not found guilty of any breach. The apology, which they stressed, was due to the venue manager’s error.

The mounting tensions at the continental tournament saw the PCB threatening to boycott the UAE game and the Asia Cup (as a whole).&nbsp;

Asia Cup 2025: Ramiz Raja accuses ICC referee Andy Pycroft of being India’s favourite

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, expressed disappointment over Team India’s conduct before and after their marquee Asia Cup 2025 game against Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday (Sep 14). Even during the toss and after the game, the Indian T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav, alongside his teammates, decided against shaking hands with their counterparts, in solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack, irking Pakistan players and their fans. While Suryakumar explained in his post-match presser why the Indian Team refused to shake hands with the Pakistani players, Naqvi laments India for dragging politics into sports.&nbsp;India beat Pakistan by seven wickets in their Asia Cup Group A game in Dubai, topping the table with two wins in as many contested matches. After the game, Suryakumar said that this Indian Team stands by the families of those who died in the heinous attack on April 22, where four Pakistan-based terrorists killed 26 innocent lives in broad daylight in India’s Kashmir, all tourists from India and abroad.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asia-cup-2025-ind-vs-pak-none-of-them-wants-to-play-the-asia-cup-indian-players-were-forced-suresh-raina-1757936364799">IND vs PAK: ‘None of them wants to play the Asia Cup, Indian players were forced...,' says Raina</a> &nbsp;The deadliest attack on Indian soil since the 2019 Pulwama bombing shocked the nation, with India retaliating with Operation Sindoor a fortnight later, destroying terror camps and bases across PoK and Pakistan in precise air strikes. It led to a war-like situation with tensions escalating on all fronts. &nbsp;However, despite a mutual agreement between the two, the relationship remained sour, with India cutting all diplomatic ties with Pakistan. &nbsp;Although the Indian government cleared its stance on competing against Pakistan in bilateral tournaments and those staged in their country, they agreed to honour international rules and regulations regarding tournaments featuring both.&nbsp; &nbsp;With the ongoing 2025 Asia Cup being an eight-team event, the BCCI agreed to face Pakistan. However, the BCCI directed players not to shake hands with their counterparts, as confirmed by SKY in the post-match presser.<h3>Handshake saga upsets Naqvi</h3>Taking to his X handle, Naqvi wrote, "Utterly disappointed by the lack of sportsmanship today. Dragging politics into the game goes against the very spirit of sports. Let's hope future victories are celebrated by all teams with grace.” &nbsp;&nbsp;

Mohsin Naqvi

Meanwhile, the PCB has raised the issue with the governing body (ACC), seeking the immediate removal of match referee Andy Pycroft, who apparently asked both captains during the toss not to shake hands, as also reported by ESPNcricinfo.

India beat Pakistan by seven wickets in their Asia Cup Group A game in Dubai, topping the table with two wins in as many contested matches.

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, expressed disappointment over Team India’s conduct before and after their marquee Asia Cup 2025 game against Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday (Sep 14). Even during the toss and after the game, the Indian T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav, alongside his teammates, decided against shaking hands with their counterparts, in solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack, irking Pakistan players and their fans. While Suryakumar explained in his post-match presser why the Indian Team refused to shake hands with the Pakistani players, Naqvi laments India for dragging politics into sports. India beat Pakistan by seven wickets in their Asia Cup Group A game in Dubai, topping the table with two wins in as many contested matches. After the game, Suryakumar said that this Indian Team stands by the families of those who died in the heinous attack on April 22, where four Pakistan-based terrorists killed 26 innocent lives in broad daylight in India’s Kashmir, all tourists from India and abroad. Also read | IND vs PAK: ‘None of them wants to play the Asia Cup, Indian players were forced...,' says Raina The deadliest attack on Indian soil since the 2019 Pulwama bombing shocked the nation, with India retaliating with Operation Sindoor a fortnight later, destroying terror camps and bases across PoK and Pakistan in precise air strikes. It led to a war-like situation with tensions escalating on all fronts. However, despite a mutual agreement between the two, the relationship remained sour, with India cutting all diplomatic ties with Pakistan. Although the Indian government cleared its stance on competing against Pakistan in bilateral tournaments and those staged in their country, they agreed to honour international rules and regulations regarding tournaments featuring both. With the ongoing 2025 Asia Cup being an eight-team event, the BCCI agreed to face Pakistan. However, the BCCI directed players not to shake hands with their counterparts, as confirmed by SKY in the post-match presser. Handshake saga upsets Naqvi Taking to his X handle, Naqvi wrote, "Utterly disappointed by the lack of sportsmanship today. Dragging politics into the game goes against the very spirit of sports. Let's hope future victories are celebrated by all teams with grace.”

India beat Pakistan by seven wickets in their Asia Cup Group A game in Dubai, topping the table with two wins in as many contested matches.

Asia Cup: ‘Dragging politics into sports’ - ACC president slams India over handshake saga

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