How Pakistan's boycott theatrics failed after handshake controversy post India match

The Asia Cup 2025 turned into a drama show after India and Pakistan’s group stage clash in Dubai on September 14. The game was one-sided, but what happened after that sparked a big controversy.

India captain Suryakumar Yadav and his teammates did not shake hands with the Pakistan players after their 7-wicket win. Instead, SKY only shook hands with batting partner Shivam Dube before walking away after scoring the winning runs.

The Pakistan team lined up after the match ended, but the Indian players went straight to the dressing room. Earlier, SKY did not shake hands with Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha at the toss.

Pakistan coach Mike Hesson later said his side was ready to shake hands but felt “disappointed” when the Indian team didn’t show up. The Indian skipper even dedicated his team’s victory to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and the armed forces.

SKY later defended India’s stand in the press conference, hinting that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the government had asked the players not to show any courtesy to Pakistan players after the match as a protest for what had happened earlier in April-May.

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From that moment onwards, the no-handshake controversy kept growing, and Pakistan went as far as to threaten to boycott the Asia Cup 2025.

Timeline of the handshake controversy

September 14: Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha refused to attend the post-match presentation ceremony after the no-handshake saga.

September 15: Pakistan team manager Naveed Cheema filed a complaint to the ICC, accusing match referee Andy Pycroft of siding with India. PCB demanded Pycroft be removed from their games in this Asia Cup.

September 16: The International Cricket Council (ICC) rejected the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) demand. Pakistan threatened to boycott their next match against the UAE if Pycroft remained. They even cancelled their pre-match press conference, though they still practiced at the nets.

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September 17 afternoon: PCB asked its players to stay in the hotel instead of leaving for the stadium for their match against the UAE. Reports suggested they might pull out of the Asia Cup altogether if the ICC doesn’t approve their demand.

September 17 evening: After hours of suspense and his meeting with former Pakistan captain and respected commentator Ramiz Raja, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi tweeted that the team would leave for the stadium. The match start was delayed by an hour.

September 17 night: Pakistan’s boycott call failed. Andy Pycroft stayed on as match referee for their match against the UAE. Pakistan finally arrived at the stadium for their must-win match.

September 17 night: The PCB then claimed that Pycroft has apologised for the incident and that the ICC has expressed willingness to conduct an inquiry into the alleged code of conduct violation that occurred during the India vs Pakistan match.

In the end, Pakistan’s threat to withdraw went nowhere as their match against the UAE went ahead as planned. They had to play under the same referee they wanted removed.

Pakistan went on to defeat the UAE by 41 runs and secure a place in the blockbuster Super 4 clash, a virtual semifinal against arch-rivals and table-toppers India. It is going to be a kind of grudge match between the two sides after the recent handshake controversy.