The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. In the ongoing T20 Asia Cup 2025, PCB took offense to India's handshake snub and took it out on match referee Andy Pycroft. While PCB in a soup over recording Pycroft's meeting with Pakistan captain Salman Agha before the UAE clash, former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has bashed them for unnecessary drama. Ashwin lauded Pycroft for his handling of the situation and wonders why PCB is crying foul.
“Andy Pycroft actually saved everybody from seeing such a poor spectacle," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
“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," he added.
Ashwin says Pycroft not at fault
Ashwin said that PCB tried to make Pycroft as scapegoat, asking for his removal from the ongoing tournament, a baseless demand which was rejected by the International Cricket Council. The legendary spinner wonders why Pycroft has become the centre of controversy.
“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," he added.
Ashwin trolls PCB
Ashwin said that the matter should have ended when Indian players followed protocol. In addition, Ashwin said that the PCB would be apologising to him if he was in Pycroft’s place.
“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. That’s our side of the story. The matter should end there."
“You filed a complaint against India, and when the dust settles, you’re saying Pycroft apologised? If I were Andy Pycroft, you would be apologising to me. What would I even be apologising for? ‘I’m sorry that Suryakumar Yadav didn’t shake your hand’? Really," he concluded.
Ashwin made these comments ahead of India’s Super 4 clash against Pakistan on September 21. In the previous game, India beat Pakistan by seven wickets after restricting them to 127/9.