India Dismissed the Complaint by Pakistan Against the Match Referee for Allegedly Instructing No Handshakes at The Toss

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Pakistan backs off from their decision of boycotting the Asia Cup despite being vocal about the match referee’s role to the International Cricket Council (ICC). The off-field controversy started after the conclusion of the ongoing Asia Cup match against India on Sunday. 

As a gesture of solidarity towards the Indian army, the men in blue opted to skip a handshake with the opponent. Latest reports confirmed that Pakistan will continue to participate in the tournament with the next match scheduled against the UAE on Wednesday.

The Ongoing Controversy

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had formally complained to the ICC, highlighting match referee Andy Pycroft’s role in violating the Code of Conduct and the Spirit of Cricket by allegedly asking Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav to avoid the customary handshake at the toss with opponent captain Salman Ali Agha. 

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The tension heightened when PCB reportedly decided to withdraw participation from the Asia Cup 2025. Pakistan has asked ICC to remove Pycroft from officiating further in the tournament. The controversy immediately gained traction among cricket enthusiasts on social media.

Meanwhile, the Jay Shah-led committee has rejected Pakistan’s plea, and Pycroft will continue to conduct the upcoming fixtures.

Post-match Handshake: Rule or Only Goodwill Gesture?

A cricket match begins after the toss, followed by the two captains shaking hands. Similarly, at the end of the match, players shake hands with opponents. However, there is no rule set by the ICC to force players involved in the act of handshake. A senior BCCI official said, "Look, if you read the rule book, there is no specification about shaking hands with the opposition. It is a goodwill gesture and a sort of convention, not law, that is followed globally across the sporting spectrum."

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The handshake drama started at the customary captains’ press meet, where Surya Kumar Yadav ignored a handshake with Salman Ali Agha, just before the first match.

Instances When Pakistan Boycotted the Asia Cup Tournament

Asia Cup 1990

India hosted the Asia Cup in 1990; however, Pakistan decided not to participate, citing strained political relationships with New Delhi. The host country won that edition by beating Sri Lanka in the final at Kolkata.

Asia Cup 1993

Deteriorating diplomatic relationships led to the cancellation of the Asia Cup in 1993. This showed how political ties affect cricket.

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There are only a few instances, probably, when India took on Pakistan without any controversy. After getting thrashed on the field, many experts believed that complaining to the ICC about the match referee is a way to shift the focus from the scorecard by PCB. As per tournament rules, if Pakistan withdraws from the Asia Cup, the UAE will get a green signal to qualify for the next round.

Opting to boycott the tournament would be a strategic misstep for Pakistan, with repercussions on fan engagement and revenue. Ultimately, the country that loses the most is Pakistan.