How things unravelled for Pakistan after handshake controversy, forcing them to settle for compromise

Pakistan’s threat to boycott the Asia Cup 2025 match against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Wednesday is set to end in a compromise, despite the International Cricket Council (ICC) not paying heed to their original demand. Incensed by Indian players refusing to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts during their Asia Cup 2025 match last Sunday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) threatened ICC with a boycott of the UAE match if their demand for action against match referee Andy Pycroft is not met.

PCB complained to ICC that the 69-year-old Zimbabwean Pycroft should be removed from the Asia Cup as he asked Pakistan and Indian captains to avoid handshakes at the toss. In a letter to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), which is headed by PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, Pakistan team manager Naved Cheema claimed that team sheets were also not exchanged at the toss on Pycroft’s insistence.

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“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,” Naqvi wrote on X on Monday. “The PCB has demanded an immediate removal of the Match Referee from the Asia Cup.”

PCB employee gaffe leaves Pakistan red-faced

While Pycroft was accused of violating the Spirit of Cricket, ICC rejected PCB’s claims because the match referee was merely acting on the instructions given to him by the ACC officials on the ground. Reportedly, a “No Handshake” policy was put in place for the India vs Pakistan match, but PCB’s Director of Cricket Operations, Usman Walha, forgot to inform Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha about it, claims new agency PTI.

After being left red-faced at the ICC, PCB chief Naqvi ordered the sacking of Walha due to the “embarrassment caused to the national cricket team and its captain.”

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A PCB source told PTI that Walha was responsible for apprising Agha about the no-handshake policy and also informing the public about it after the toss.

“Walha should have released a statement at the toss itself when the two captains didn’t shake hands. Naqvi apparently was furious as he handled it poorly,” a PCB source said.

Pakistan cancel press conference to avoid embarrassment

Realising that the mistake was made from their end, PCB has been in two minds for a while after issuing the threat of a boycott. The Pakistan team did turn up at the ICC Academy in Dubai on Tuesday to train on the eve of the UAE match, but they cancelled the press conference.

While a few media houses reported that it was a mark of protest by Pakistan against ICC for not taking any action on their demand, it was merely done to avoid any media questions over their possibility of withdrawing from the tournament or their baseless complaint against Pycroft.

The players avoided the media while Naqvi, Pakistan’s interior minister, travelled to Islamabad to decide the next step as the case for boycotting the UAE match appeared increasingly weak.

“Consultations are underway in this regard (boycotting UAE match) and a final decision will be taken by tomorrow (Wednesday). The decision will be taken keeping in mind the interest of Pakistan," PCB spokesperson Aamir Mir told Pakistani reporters in a WhatsApp message, according to the Hindustan Times.

PCB agrees to compromise; Pakistan will play vs UAE

The latest is that the PCB has agreed to a compromise, withdrawing its pullout threat. The compromise is that Pycroft will not be overseeing Pakistan’s match against the UAE and Richie Richardson will be the match referee. This news has been confirmed by PTI and ANI.

“Richi Richardson is likely to replace Andy Pycroft as match referee in tomorrow’s game of Pakistan vs UAE: ACC,” ANI tweeted early Wednesday.

Boycotting the Asia Cup 2025 was always going to be tough for PCB, which has been reeling under financial pressure since hosting the Champions Trophy 2025. A PCB source also told that Pakistan were most likely to play their match against UAE as they fear financial backlash from Jay Shah-led ICC in case of boycott.

All of these points towards Pakistan taking the field against the UAE at the Dubai International Stadium on Wednesday in a must-win clash. A victory would see them progress to Super 4s and take on India once again next Sunday.