Asia Cup 2025: Pycroft apprised of ‘no handshake’ decision minutes before toss

Match referee Andy Pycroft was informed about the BCCI’s decision that the two captains will not shake hands during the India-Pakistan match of the Asia Cup just moments before the toss, according to a report in ESPNcricinfo.

As Pycroft walked on to the field, he was told by the ACC venue manager that the BCCI had told them that there was to be no handshake between the captains.

Pycroft asked Pakistan captain Salman Agha not to shake hands with Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav at the toss.

The match went on without an untoward incident. But as the Indian skipper hit the winning six, both Surya and Shivam Dube walked off towards the dugout without shaking hands with the Pakistan team.

Following this, all hell broke loose and the Pakistani skipper boycotted the presentation ceremony.

Later, Pakistan made a lot of hue and cry about the Indian stance and blamed Pycroft for this. They wrote to the ICC demanding that Pycroft be sent out of the tournament and even threatened to pull out.

As the ICC did not budge, Pakistan created a drama before their all-important match against the UAE by not turning up for the match on time. At a hurriedly convened meeting between the Pakistan officials and Pycroft, the latter informed them that the he was sounded about the ‘handshake’ thing at the eleventh hour and did not have time to reflect on it and check with the ICC.

Pakistan claimed that Pycroft apologised for the incident and the match went ahead, though late by an hour.