On Monday, Pakistan filed a complaint with cricket’s governing body regarding the match referee in their Asia Cup face-off against India, as tensions between the nations spilled into the sport.
India secured a seven-wicket victory over their rivals on Sunday in Dubai, marking the first cricket meeting since their military conflict in May.
Tensions escalated post-match as India’s players exited the field without engaging in handshakes.
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Pakistan accused the Indian team and claimed that match referee Andy Pycroft from Zimbabwe advised captain Salman Agha against shaking hands with India’s skipper Suryakumar Yadav before the game. No handshake occurred between the captains.
“The PCB has submitted a complaint to the ICC concerning the match referee’s breaches of the ICC code of conduct and MCC laws related to the spirit of cricket,” stated Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi on social media.
The PCB called for Pycroft’s immediate removal from the rest of the regional T20 tournament.
In the post-match press conference, Suryakumar mentioned that his team followed the guidance of the Indian government and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
“We align with the Indian government and the BCCI,” Suryakumar explained when questioned about the lack of handshakes with Pakistan players.
In protest, Pakistan refrained from sending captain Agha to post-match responsibilities.
The teams might face each other again in a Super Four match in Dubai on Sunday, assuming Pakistan wins their last group match against the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday.
A third encounter could occur on September 28 in the Dubai final, contingent on favorable results.
This was the first India-Pakistan cricket match since cross-border tensions in May left over 70 dead in missile, drone, and artillery exchanges, preceding a ceasefire.
The conflict followed an April 22 attack on civilians in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan, an allegation denied by Islamabad.
