Asia Cup 2025: Ravi Ashwin comes in support of Andy Pycroft over India vs Pakistan handshake row
Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has strongly criticised the Pakistan cricket team for their reaction to the ongoing Andy Pycroft controversy in the Asia Cup 2025. The situation erupted following a handshake snub that has dominated headlines, with Pakistan even threatening to pull out of a match in protest. The controversy began during the India vs Pakistan group stage clash, where tensions were already high due to recent political developments. At the toss, match referee Andy Pycroft reportedly informed Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha that the Indian players would not be participating in the traditional pre- or post-match handshake.
Asia Cup 2025: Who was at mistake during the India vs Pakistan handshake row?
India’s decision was seen as a silent protest against the April Pahalgam terror attack, which left 26 civilians dead. Following the match, which India won comfortably, Pakistani players were visibly upset by the gesture, interpreting it as disrespectful and politically charged. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) reacted by filing an official complaint with the ICC, accusing Pycroft of mishandling the situation and demanding his removal. They also threatened to forfeit their next match against the UAE if no action was taken.
On his YouTube channel Ash Ki Baat, former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin didn’t hold back while sharing his thoughts on the ongoing controversy surrounding the Pakistan cricket team and match referee Andy Pycroft. In a strongly worded segment, Ashwin criticised Pakistan for targeting Pycroft and attempting to make him the scapegoat in the aftermath of their group stage loss to India in the Asia Cup 2025.
Ashwin expressed clear disapproval of Pakistan's actions, suggesting that their outrage over the handshake controversy was both unnecessary and a diversion tactic. According to him, Pycroft was simply following the protocol that had been communicated to him before the match. If anything, Ashwin stated, Pycroft’s intervention actually helped Pakistan avoid further embarrassment during a tense moment, as the Indian team had already decided not to engage in the customary handshake — a decision rooted in the recent Pahalgam terror attack.
Ashwin further remarked that Pakistan’s outrage seemed conveniently timed after their heavy defeat against India. He implied that the controversy served as a smokescreen to divert attention from their on-field shortcomings. With pointed words, Ashwin made it clear that turning the issue into a spectacle was not only avoidable but also unfair to the officials involved.
"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. 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," stated former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin.
Interestingly, despite several formal requests from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the International Cricket Council (ICC) refused to remove Andy Pycroft from the match referee panel for Pakistan’s game against the UAE. Pycroft, who was at the centre of the handshake controversy during the India clash, has also been appointed to officiate the India vs Pakistan Super 4 match.
Reacting to the controversy, former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin defended Pycroft, stating that it wasn’t the referee’s responsibility to enforce handshakes. Ashwin pointed out that Pycroft was merely following instructions and couldn’t be expected to act like a school principal or teacher. He added that forcing players to shake hands is not part of the match referee’s role or duties.
"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. 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?" Ashwin added.
"Whether it's a corporate office, a government firm, or a cricket team — when there's an organizational directive, you follow it. Our players were clear: they were here to represent India, and they followed protocol. That's our side of the story. The matter should end there," he further said.
In the end, Ravichandran Ashwin expressed his frustration over the fact that Andy Pycroft was made to apologise for something he didn’t even do. Ashwin called it baffling, pointing out that Pycroft was simply following protocol and had no active role in the handshake incident. According to him, it was Pakistan who should’ve apologised to Pycroft, not the other way around. As the India-Pakistan rivalry intensifies, the two sides are set to clash once again in the Super 4 stage of the Asia Cup on Sunday. The high-stakes match will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, where all eyes will be on the Men in Blue as they look to assert dominance once again.
