Asia Cup 2025: PCB claims Pycroft apologised for prohibiting handshake with Indians

Match referee Andy Pycroft

The Pakistan Cricket Board on Wednesday claimed that match referee Andy Pycroft apologised to its national team for prohibiting the handshake between Indian and Pakistani players during their Asia Cup match here.

Pakistan, who delayed their departure for the game against the UAE here on Wednesday to protest the ICC's refusal to remove Pycroft, claimed that the Zimbabwean had apologised for his actions on Sunday. The match began at 9pm IST instead of the slated 8pm IST start.

Pakistan captain Salman Agha (right) reacts as India players walk back to the pavilion without a handshake after their win on Sunday. Pic/AFP

"ICC's controversial match referee Andy Pycroft has apologised to the manager and captain of the Pakistani cricket team. Andy Pycroft had prohibited the captains of both teams from shaking hands during the India-Pakistan match," the PCB said in a statement on X.

"The Pakistan Cricket Board had strongly reacted to Pycroft's action. Pycroft termed the incident on September 14 as a result of miscommunication and apologised," it added.

The Pakistan Board also claimed that the ICC would be investigating its complaint against Pycroft.

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