According to former international umpire Anil Chaudhary, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) stirred up recent controversies during the Asia Cup as a deliberate attempt to deflect attention. This came after Pakistan’s defeat to India in Dubai on September 19th. These controversies included threats of boycotts, disagreements with ICC match referee Andy Pycroft, and the much-talked-about handshake dispute with the Indian team.
Players of Pakistan and UAE shake hands after an Asia Cup match.
The “handshake row” began when the Indian team opted not to greet Pakistani players after their decisive 7-wicket win in Dubai. In reaction, Pakistan boycotted the post-match presentation, with Captain Salman Agha notably absent.
India’s decision was rooted in the severely strained diplomatic ties between the two nations, exacerbated by a horrific terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22nd, which claimed the lives of 26 tourists and was attributed to Pakistan-sponsored terrorists.
The situation intensified further when the PCB lodged a formal complaint against match referee Andy Pycroft. They accused him of breaching the ICC Code of Conduct and the MCC laws concerning the spirit of cricket. However, the ICC promptly dismissed Pakistan’s complaint.
Subsequently, the PCB threatened to pull out of their critical match against the UAE. The drama reached a peak when the Pakistani team refused to leave their Dubai Marina hotel for the essential game, insisting on Pycroft’s removal.
After eventually receiving clearance from management, the team did arrive at the stadium, but the game was delayed by an hour.
Is the Handshake a Mandatory Cricket Ritual?
The ICC’s Code of Conduct for Match Officials and Support Personnel outlines that “Article 2.1.1 is intended to cover all types of conduct of a minor nature that is contrary to the spirit of the game and which is not specifically and adequately covered by the specific offences set out elsewhere in this Code of Conduct.” It further clarifies that “The spirit of the game may be defined by reference to the Preamble to the Laws of Cricket and involves respect for, amongst others, (a) the role of the umpires and (b) the game and its traditional values.”
Crucially, the rulebook for both players and officials contains no mention of handshakes being a mandatory gesture.
“In my opinion, these actions were a tactic to shift focus after losing the match,” Chaudhary stated. “There’s absolutely nothing in any law book or ICC playing condition that mandates a handshake. I understand the recent controversy, but the tradition of shaking hands, even by captains, only began about 15-20 years ago. I believe this entire issue was needlessly manufactured.”
He further elaborated, “Those who lodged the complaint surely knew it was pointless on the field. You simply cannot enforce this. I’m unsure about the motivations of their administrators, but they must realize that such actions will not lead to any favorable outcome.”
Additionally, Pakistan canceled their scheduled pre-match press conference on Tuesday, although they did conduct a practice session ahead of their game against the UAE.
Regarding Match Referee Pycroft, Chaudhary remarked, “These are all entirely unnecessary concerns. He is a highly experienced and respected referee from the ICC elite panel, a renowned former player for Zimbabwe, and boasts an impeccable track record.”