Former India left-arm spinner Murali Kartik has remarked that Pakistan’s threat to boycott their battle against the UAE hours before the match and subsequently coming out to play the game was a childish attitude on an international stage, adding that even kindergarten children behave better.

The PCB was unhappy with match referee Andy Pycroft's actions during the no-handshake incident during Sunday, September 14's India vs. Pakistan match in Dubai. The ICC dismissed the PCB’s concerns and chose not to remove Pycroft. As a result, he continued to serve as the match referee for Pakistan’s Group A game against the UAE on Wednesday.

Kartik called out the PCB's tardiness and failure to be at the game on time, criticizing them for their lack of professionalism.

“The only word I can think of right now is ‘absolutely childish and churlish.’ I can’t think of anything else. If you wish to take a stand, please proceed. I think for everybody in life, you take a stand, but stick to it; have the conviction to stick to it.

Just because when you see, oh, there could be a financial implication, which literally is 16 million US dollars over a handshake saga or over something like this. I can’t think of anything. I think people in kindergarten, even kids in kindergarten nowadays, do not behave like this,” Kartik said on Cricbuzz.  

Pakistan managed to defeat UAE by 41 runs and qualified for the Super Four stage. They will play India on Sunday, September 21.