In today's Super-4 clash of the Asia Cup, India and Pakistan are set to face off once more. This tournament has already been marked by a previous handshake controversy. In the last encounter, Indian players refused to shake hands with Pakistani players. Following this, Pakistan demanded the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft. However, the ICC rejected the request outright.
As we approach the Super-4 contest, another setback strikes Pakistan—the same referee, Andy Pycroft, will officiate this match. Former Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has voiced support for Pycroft, who faced criticism from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) post the 2025 India-Pakistan handshake debacle.
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On his YouTube channel “Ash Ki Baat,” Ashwin commented on the controversy, praising Pycroft for sparing everyone an awkward scene. India had informed the match referee beforehand of their decision. “So, what's there to complain about after losing the match?” he remarked.
Ashwin criticizes Pakistan
Ashwin also dispelled the notion that the referee could compel players to shake hands. “Referees aren’t schoolteachers or principals to order ‘come on, shake hands.’ That's beyond their scope. Where's Pycroft's fault in this?” he questioned.
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The ICC clarified that Pycroft did not breach the ‘Spirit of the Game’ and merely conveyed ACC venue manager’s message. Despite repeated objections, ICC has once again appointed Pycroft as the match referee for the upcoming India-Pakistan Super-4 match on Sunday, signaling its commitment to its elite panel and resistance to PCB's demands.
