Sunil Gavaskar slams Pakistan team for Asia Cup 2025 controversies, media boycott: 'They held the game to ransom'

Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar tore into the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for its antics in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025 as he accused the cricket body of holding the game to “ransom” by threatening the boycott of the match against the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Since Indian players refused to shake hands with Pakistani cricketers in their first Asia Cup 2025 match, the Men In Green and PCB have been involved in numerous controversial incidents.

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It began with their complaint to the International Cricket Council (ICC) against match referee Andy Pycroft for failing to uphold the spirit of cricket, as it demanded the former cricketer’s removal. After ICC rejected the demand, PCB threatened to boycott the match against the UAE, which eventually took place after an hour’s delay.

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Pakistan have also been boycotting pre-match press conferences since India refused to shake hands in solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.

Gavaskar slams Pakistan for Asia Cup controversies

Indian batting great Gavaskar has hit back at Pakistan for creating massive controversy after the handshake incident, as he pointed out that the refusal to do so has often been used as a medium to protest in sports.

“The PCB complaining about it was hard to understand, as there is nothing in the rule books that says handshakes are mandatory. There are many previous instances in different sports where opponents who have clashed have not shaken hands after their match has ended. The ICC quite rightly ignored the protest, if indeed there was one made as per media reports,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for Sportstar.

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Gavaskar also questioned Pakistan skipping the media duties and wondered if any action would be taken against them.

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“What needs to be looked at is the avoiding of the mandatory media meet on the eve of the match by the Pakistani contingent. They did not have to send the captain, players or the coach. Anyone among the large support staff could have met the media. That did not happen, and it will be interesting to see if any action is taken for avoiding what is mandatory,” he added.

In a scathing attack over the boycott drama, Gavaskar accused Pakistan of holding cricket to ransom, only to eke out an apology that they did not deserve.

“The other thing that left a sour taste in the mouth is holding up the game and starting it one hour late. If the PCB had any issues to discuss with and about the match referee Andy Pycroft, then it had two full days after their loss to India and before the game against the UAE in which to do so. By keeping everybody in suspense and not even turning up at the ground until almost the toss time, they held the game to ransom,” Gavaskar wrote.

“There is simply no excuse for delaying the start of the game for an hour while haggling to get an apology from the match referee for something that was also not in any of the rule books. Then, despite the ICC, which appoints the umpires and match referees, saying there was no apology given, the PCB insisted that they had secured one and so agreed to play. They pounced on the words ‘regrettable miscommunication’ to say that this was the apology.”