Asia Cup 2025: No-Handshake Confusion Between India and Pakistan Explained

Photo: AFP

The recent India vs Pakistan match in the Asia Cup 2025 caused a stir, not because of the cricket on the field, but because of confusion over a “no-handshake” protocol between the two teams’ captains. The issue involved match referee Andy Pycroft and happened just minutes before the toss.

According to reports, Pycroft was informed about the no-handshake rule only four minutes before the toss. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) venue manager asked him to relay this message to the captains, Suryakumar Yadav for India and Salman Ali Agha for Pakistan. The manager had received instructions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which had approval from the Indian government, that no handshake should take place between the two captains.

Pycroft, a Zimbabwean umpire and match referee, did not have enough time to inform the International Cricket Council (ICC) about this last-minute protocol. His decision to tell Salman directly aimed to prevent embarrassment during the customary handshake with Suryakumar.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was unhappy with the situation and sent multiple letters asking for Pycroft’s removal from Asia Cup matches. Pakistan even threatened to withdraw from their match against the UAE on Wednesday if the request was not accepted. The ICC rejected the request twice, and the matches went ahead after a brief delay of one hour.

The PCB stated that Pycroft had apologized to the team manager and captain of Pakistan. However, the apology was described as an “expression of regret over the misunderstanding and miscommunication,” not as an admission of a breach of protocol. PCB had initially accused him of failing to follow proper rules, which Pycroft could not do due to the short notice.

This incident has highlighted the challenges of enforcing strict protocols in high-pressure matches, especially when instructions come at the last minute. Cricket fans and experts have debated whether the communication could have been handled better and whether last-minute political or administrative decisions should affect the spirit of the game.

Overall, the situation appears to be settling down, with both boards moving forward, but the episode will be remembered as a rare administrative confusion during one of cricket’s most intense rivalries.