Veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin slammed Pakistan for targeting match referee Andy Pycroft over the handshake controversy following Team India’s group-stage win in the Asia Cup 2025. Ashwin also stated that Pakistan should focus on improving their game instead of demanding Pycroft’s removal.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) filed a formal complaint with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and the ICC, seeking the removal of Andy Pycroft from the Asia Cup. Suryakumar Yadav avoided a handshake with Salman Ali Agha at the toss. Indian players also did not shake hands with the Pakistan players after the match.
Speaking on his YouTube show Ash Ki Baat, Ravichandran Ashwin defended Andy Pycroft over the no-handshake controversy. He stated that Pakistan created unnecessary drama and added that the referee prevented the situation from turning into a poor spectacle.
“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,” Ashwin said.
"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,” he added.
Andy Pycroft Is Not a Schoolteacher - Ravichandran Ashwin
Pakistan released a video of a meeting with match referee Andy Pycroft in the restricted Players and Match Officials Area (PMOA). The ICC rejected the PCB’s demands and confirmed Pycroft as the match referee for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 Super Four clash between India and Pakistan in Dubai.
Ravichandran Ashwin said that Pakistan unfairly targeted Pycroft over the handshake issue. He stated that the referee cannot force players to shake hands. Ashwin added that Pycroft had done nothing wrong and should not be made a scapegoat for the incident.
“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,” Ashwin stated.
“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
The Matter Should End There - Ravichandran Ashwin
Ashwin stated that the Indian players followed a directive from the BCCI. He added that the cricketers had clearly communicated their stance and that the matter should be considered closed.
“Whether it’s a corporate office, a government firm, or a cricket team — when there’s an organisational directive, you follow it. Our players were clear: they were here to represent India, and they followed protocol. The cricketers also communicated their stance — they said, ‘We don’t want to shake hands.’ That’s our side of the story. The matter should end there.”
India will face Pakistan again in the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup on Sunday, September 21. India won by seven wickets in their previous encounter. They restricted Pakistan to 127/9 and then comfortably chased down the target.
Team India is expected to maintain their no-handshake stance, and the Men in Blue will be hoping to begin the Super Four stage on a strong note.
Also read: Pakistan players mentally disturbed, motivational speaker summoned to lift morale before big India clash
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