The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has backed off from its threat to withdraw from the Asia Cup 2025, according to reports. The PCB threatened to pull out of the ongoing tournament in the wake of the ‘no handshake’ controversy during the match between India and Pakistan last week.
The Indian team maintained a ‘no handshake’ stance throughout the match. Captain Suryakumar Yadav did not shake hands with his counterpart, Salman Ali Agha, at the toss and did the same at the end of the match too.
IND vs PAK turns controversial
After hitting the winning six, Suryakumar and Shivam Dube walked straight back to the dressing room without the customary handshake with the opposition players.
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Also Read: ICC’s Andy Pycroft Banned From Entering Pakistan After India Handshake Row, Notification Issued
Following the incident, the PCB responded by filing a formal complaint with the International Cricket Council. They claimed that match referee Andy Pycroft had instructed the captains not to shake hands at the toss.
PCB threatened to pull out of Asia Cup 2025
The board also threatened to pull out of Asia Cup 2025 if Pycroft was not removed from officiating further in the tournament.
Hours after the match ended, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president, confirmed that a complaint had been lodged with the ICC as he posted: “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. The PCB has demanded an immediate removal of the Match Referee from the Asia Cup.”
Pakistan unlikely to pull out of Asia Cup 2025:
However, Pakistan are unlikely to boycott the remainder of the Asia Cup. ESPNcricinfo has reported that while PCB has lodged a formal complaint, it has not taken a formal stance to abandon the competition, irrespective of the ICC’s decision on their plea against Pycroft.
Pycroft and Richie Richardson are the two match referees at the ongoing tournament. The former Zimbabwe cricketer is scheduled to officiate two more group stage matches: Sri Lanka vs Hong Kong and Pakistan vs UAE.
Meanwhile, the Men in Green are on the verge of elimination from the Asia Cup after suffering a crushing 7-wicket loss at the hands of India.
They will be facing UAE in their last group game this week. It is a do-or-die match for both the teams. The winner of the match will join India in the Super 4s while the losing team will exit the competition.
