Team India players refused to shake hands with their Pakistan counterpart following an emphatic seven-wicket victory in the Asia Cup 2025 group-stage match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday (September 14).

There was a massive backlash among fans against the BCCI and Indian players for not pulling out of the Pakistan fixture in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 people dead.

The pre-match atmosphere seemed quite tense. At the toss, India skipper Suryakumar Yadav pointedly refused to shake hands or acknowledge Pakistan’s Salman Ali Agha.

After hitting the winning runs, Suryakumar walked back to the dressing room alongside non-striker Shivam Dube, refusing to exchange post-match pleasantries with Pakistan players.

The Indian captain also dedicated the win over Pakistan to the country’s armed forces and said the national team stood in solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam attack.

The handshake gate seems to have hurt the Pakistan cricket team’s ego, prompting PCB to lodge a protest with the ICC and also demanding match referee Andy Pycroft’s removal.

“The PCB has lodged a complaint with the ICC regarding violations by the Match Referee of the ICC Code of Conduct and the MCC Laws pertaining to the Spirit of Cricket. The PCB has demanded an immediate removal of the Match Referee from the Asia Cup," PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the chairman of the Asian Cricket Council, said in a social media post on Monday.

Moreover, a report published in Cricbuzz claims that the PCB has even threatened to boycott its upcoming match against the UAE on September 17 if its demand for Pycroft’s sacking is not fulfilled.

According to CricketPakistan.com, the PCB had warned, “Pycroft must be removed from the Asia Cup, or we will not play any further matches."

In a statement issued late Sunday night, the Pakistan board condemned Team India’s action, calling it “unsporting."

“Team manager Naveed Cheema lodged a strong protest against the Indian players’ behaviour of not shaking hands. It was deemed as unsporting and against the spirit of the game," a PCB statement said.

India and Pakistan might face each other twice more in the ongoing Asia Cup, provided both teams qualify for Super 4s and final.