 "Despite threatening a boycott, Pakistan continued with the Asia Cup tournament as they reached the Super Fours on Wednesday. Image: AFP")
Former Indian cricketer Murali Kartik and famous broadcaster Harsha Bhogle took a dig at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after the Men In Green were forced to compromise and continue playing in the Asia Cup 2025 despite threatening to boycott the tournament after the no-handshake controversy.
While Pakistan wanted match referee Andy Pycroft to be removed from the Asia Cup 2025, the 69-year-old Zimbabwean was the one who officiated the Thursday game between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after PCB settled for a compromise.
PCB compared to kids in kindergarten
Taking a dig at PCB, Bhogle said that one shouldn’t threaten with an ultimatum if they cannot enforce it, as it makes them look weak. While Bhogle didn’t take any names, his social media post around the time Pakistan made a U-turn on their threat to boycott the Asia Cup.
“The lesson for all of us is that you must never issue an ultimatum you cannot enforce. It makes you look weak,” Bhogle wrote on X.
Former India spinner Kartik called PCB “childish” as he compared the Pakistan board to kids in kindergarten.
“The only word I can think of right now is absolutely childish and churlish. I can’t think of anything else. If you wish to take a stand, please proceed. I think for everybody in life, you take a stand, but stick to it, have the conviction to stick to it," Kartik told Cricbuzz.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“Just because when you see, oh, there could be a financial implication, which literally is 16 million US dollars over a handshake saga or over something like this. I can’t think of anything," Kartik added.
“I think people in kindergarten, even kids in kindergarten nowadays, do not behave like this."
How Pakistan’s boycott drama unravelled
Enraged by Indian players refusing to shake hands with Pakistani players after the match last Sunday, Pakistan directed their anger toward match referee Pycroft, demanding his removal from the tournament, or they would boycott the match against the UAE .
PCB complained that it was Pycroft who asked Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha not to shake hands with Indian counterpart Suryakumar Yadav at the toss. Pakistan accused Pycroft of working at the “behest” of BCCI and breaching the spirit of the sport.
ICC, however, rejected PCB’s claims, reasoning that Pycroft was merely following the instructions given to him by Asian Cricket Council (ACC) officials, a body that is headed by PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi. This didn’t placate Pakistan, who shot off a second letter demanding Pycroft’s removal from Pakistan matches or else they will boycott the UAE game, which would lead to their elimination from the tournament.
The drama hit a crescendo on Wednesday as the Pakistan vs UAE match was delayed by an hour, with PCB sticking to its demand. However, the match eventually took place after a delay as Pakistan won by 41 runs and set up a Super Four match against India on Sunday.
The PCB claimed that they agreed to continue playing in the Asia Cup after Pycroft “apologised” to the Pakistan captain for “prohibiting” the handshake at the toss and that the ICC has agreed to investigate the matter further.
But ICC sources have refuted this claim. Pycroft only apologised for the “miscommunication” between the Pakistan captain and him and ICC will only investigate the matter again if PCB provides new evidence.