Wed Sep 17 20:39:00 UTC 2025: **Asia Cup 2025: Pakistan Cricket Team Threatens Boycott Over Handshake Snub, But Ultimately Plays UAE**

**Dubai, September 18, 2025** – The Asia Cup 2025 was briefly thrown into turmoil on Wednesday as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) threatened to pull its team from the tournament following a dispute over a perceived slight by the Indian team. The controversy stemmed from an incident on September 14th, where Indian players, including Suryakumar Yadav, allegedly failed to shake hands with the Pakistani team after a match, leading to accusations of unsportsmanlike conduct.

The PCB also alleged bias against match referee Andy Pycroft, filing a complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) seeking his removal. However, the ICC swiftly rejected the PCB’s claims, asserting they were baseless and pointing out that no evidence was provided to support the claims. The ICC further clarified that Pycroft had acted appropriately within his role, maintaining the sanctity of the toss and following the guidelines of the Asian Cricket Council.

Despite the initial threat of a boycott, the Pakistan team ultimately took the field against the UAE on Wednesday. PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi, also the Asian Cricket Council Chief, addressed the media alongside former PCB Chairmen Ramiz Raja and Najam Sethi, explaining the decision to continue participating in the tournament.

“We believe that politics and sports can’t go together. This is sport, and let it remain a sport,” Naqvi stated. “Cricket should be separate from all this.” He further revealed that the match referee had spoken with the Pakistan team management, acknowledging that the handshake incident should not have occurred.

The ICC, in its rebuttal to the PCB, emphasized that the responsibility for setting team and tournament-specific protocols regarding handshakes lies with the tournament organizers and team managers, not the match referee. The ICC’s statement questioned whether the PCB’s actual grievance was with the decision not to hold handshakes and directed the PCB to address its concerns with the appropriate parties.

The incident highlights the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan and the challenges of separating sports from political complexities.

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