Will Pakistan pull out of Asia Cup 2025: What PCB said?
Asia Cup 2025: The controversy about the handshake between India and Pakistan players after their Asia Cup 2025 match on Sunday in Dubai has taken a dramatic turn. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has escalated its protest.
Just a day after complaining to match referee Andy Pycroft about the Indian team, the PCB is now asking for Pycroft to be removed from his job as a referee for the rest of the Asia Cup. They have warned the International Cricket Council (ICC) that they might pull out of the tournament if their demands are not met.
Pycroft went too far: PCB
The PCB claims that Pycroft went too far when he told the captains, Suryakumar Yadav from India and Salam Agha from Pakistan, not to shake hands before the match, which they say showed favoritism toward one team. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi stated on social media that they have filed a complaint with the ICC about Pycroft's actions, saying he violated the rules of conduct.
PCB threatens to skip their next match against UAE
The PCB is serious about this issue, threatening to skip their next match against the UAE on September 17 if Pycroft is not removed. A report mentioned that the PCB insists Pycroft must be taken off the referee panel, or they will not continue playing in the tournament. There are also reports that the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is looking into possible disciplinary actions against India for their actions regarding the handshake.
Prakash Kumar Pandey