India-Pakistan and R Ashwin (Source: Ash ki Baat/YouTube.com)
Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has lashed out at the Pakistan cricket team for the Andy Pycroft controversy. The handshake issue, which took centre stage in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025, had heads rolling, as Pakistan threatened to forfeit the match.
Ashwin Fumes Over Pakistan's Approach
India and Pakistan have been at loggerheads since the last week, after both were engaged in a handshake controversy, as the Men in Blue refused to shake hands with the Pakistan side at the toss and following the conclusion of the game, where match referee Andy Pycroft was the centre of attraction.
Pycroft informed Pakistani skipper Salman Ali Agha at the toss that the Indian team would not be engaging in any handshake, which the Pakistan side took as an offence and lodged an official complaint, threatening to pull out of the game against the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
On his YouTube channel, Ash Ki Baat, former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has shared his thoughts on the Pakistan team, using some harsh words. Ashwin, who is unimpressed by Pakistan's gesture of going after Pycroft, making him a scapegoat, isn't going down well with the former Indian spinner.
In fact, Ashwin said that, thanks to Pycroft, Pakistan were saved from such a poor spectacle, as he was only following orders. Considering he was informed before the game about the handshake, he had no other option. Also mentioning that Pakistan lost the game, so they wanted something to create controversy and, in fact, shift their focus to something else.
"Andy Pycroft actually saved everybody from seeing such a poor spectacle. India informed the match referee in advance — this is our decision, and we will follow it. That's it. After all this drama, you lost the match. So what are you complaining about? You didn't lose because we didn't shake hands. Please go and find out what you can actually improve," Ashwin said on his YouTube Channel.
Interestingly, despite multiple requests from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to the International Cricket Council (ICC), they rejected their request to remove Andy Pycroft from the match referee panel for their game against the UAE, as he will also officiate in the upcoming encounter.
Ashwin then reiterated that it was not his job to ensure they shook hands, as he cannot force anyone to follow directives because he's not a school teacher or principal.
"If no handshake was your problem with India, why were you looking for an answer to that problem in the UAE game? Why did you have to make Andy Pycroft the scapegoat? He has done nothing wrong. He is not a schoolteacher. He's not a principal. He can't go and bring Surya and say, 'Come shake hands'. That's not his job. What exactly is Pycroft's fault here?" he added.
Pycroft Not A School Teacher, Speaks Ashwin
Ashwin further said that whatever the orders were given to the Indian side were, they were from the government or the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). But why was Pycroft being involved in such a thing, where he had no say in anything.
"Whether it's a corporate office, a government firm, or a cricket team — when there's an organizational directive, you follow it. Our players were clear: they were here to represent India, and they followed protocol. That's our side of the story. The matter should end there," he further said.
In the end, Ashwin was fuming over the fact that they made Pycroft apologise for something that he didn't even do, which is actually baffling to him, considering he wasn't even involved in any of this, while in fact, Pakistan should have apologised to him instead.
"You filed a complaint against India, and when the dust settles, you're saying Pycroft apologized? If I were Andy Pycroft, you are apologizing to me. What would I even be apologizing for? 'I'm sorry that Suryakumar Yadav didn't shake your hand'? Really?" he concluded.
As the rivalry is heating up, India and Pakistan will go head-to-head once again in the Super 4 stage on Sunday, where the stakes will be even higher for the Men in Blue at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai.
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