The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) shared a muted video showing match referee Andy Pycroft with the team management, which quickly went viral and became the subject of widespread ridicule on social media.
PCB Releases Video Amid ‘No-Handshake’ Controversy
The ongoing ‘no-handshake’ controversy has taken a new turn after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) released a silent video capturing a discussion between captain Salman Ali Agha, head coach Mike Hesson, and a PCB official with match referee Andy Pycroft.
The incident traces back to the Group A clash of the Asia Cup 2025 between India and Pakistan on September 14, 2025. This was the first encounter between the two sides following heightened geopolitical tensions after the tragic Pahalgam incident. Despite widespread calls for a boycott, the Indian team participated in the multinational tournament, choosing to make a statement through their actions on the field.
🚨 Video clip of match referee Andy Pycroft apologising to Pakistan’s manager and captain. pic.twitter.com/VnBKM6ePBa
— Ihtisham Ul Haq (@iihtishamm) September 17, 2025
Pakistan played the UAE match despite boycott threats
During the toss of the Asia Cup 2025 Group A match, Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav deliberately avoided eye contact and a handshake with Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha. The Indian team maintained the same stance even after their emphatic victory, with clips of Yadav closing the team dressing room doors going viral. In response, Agha skipped the post-match presentation ceremony.
The situation intensified when the Pakistan management lodged an official complaint, claiming India’s refusal to shake hands violated the spirit of cricket. They even threatened to boycott the tournament if match referee Andy Pycroft was not removed from Pakistan’s remaining matches. The controversy escalated to the point where Pakistan’s match against the UAE was delayed by an hour due to the team’s initial reluctance to play.
Shortly afterward, the PCB posted a muted video suggesting that Pycroft had apologized to the Pakistan team. However, the video was met with widespread sarcasm and trolling online. Reposts by Pakistani fans drew reactions from Indian supporters, with many mocking the PCB’s approach and questioning the seriousness of their muted video statement.