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Asia Cup Handshake Row Escalates As ICC Mulls Taking Strict Action Against PCB: Report

Anurag Dasgupta

PCB in trouble [Source: @CallMeSheri1_/x.com] PCB in trouble [Source: @CallMeSheri1_/x.com]

It seems like the tables have turned, and it is now the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)’s turn to face ICC’s wrath at the global level. The Asia Cup 2025 has been turned into a mockery by Pakistan cricket, especially after the handshake row with the Indian cricket team, last Sunday during their group stage match.

A simple cricketing tournament was turned into a controversy as the Men in Green decided to boycott the UAE clash, but they eventually took a U-turn and turned up late for the Asia Cup match. They broke several rules (delaying the game, threatening match referee), and this time, ICC has taken matters into its own hands.

According to reports by Kushan Sarkar, the ICC CEO, Sanjog Gupta, has fired an email to PCB for multiple breaches of rules of the Players Match Officials Area (PMOA) ahead of UAE game. The CEO clarified that the governing body is looking into the matter and could take serious action.

What led to Pakistan's Asia Cup boycott call?

With the Pahalgam terror attack fresh in the minds of the Indian cricketers, they decided not to shake hands with Pakistan players before and after the game, and when Suryakumar Yadav, the India captain smacked a six to seal the win, he walked off the field without meeting with his counterparts.

This infuriated the Pakistan Cricket Board as they filed an official complaint to the ICC against match referee, Andy Pycroft, for breaching the Code of Conduct. However, the ICC rejected the plea as the PCB threatened to boycott the tournament.

Reportedly, ICC rejected multiple letters from PCB to fire the match referee from the entire Asia Cup, and when things didn’t go their way, Pakistan turned up late and breached multiple rules.

PCB also threatened to file a complaint against India captain Suryakumar Yadav for his post-game statement on the Pahalgam terror attack, and the team has time till Sunday to lodge a complaint.