The Sports Buff ⚽️ ⚾️ 🏈

By Mohammed Ahmer (sports writer the-sports-buff.com)

Following the recent handshake issue between Pakistan and India, tensions escalated when Pakistan warned that it would withdraw from the tournament unless the match referee, Andy Pycroft, were removed for the remainder of the tournament. However, according to recent reports, the ICC has rejected the PCB’s request to remove the former Zimbabwean from the role of match referee. 

It all started when the match between the arch-rivals ended with the Indian team refusing to shake hands with the Pakistani team, making a mockery of why the game is known as the “gentlemen’s game”.

Pakistan’s captain, Salman Ali Agh, didn’t attend the post-match press conference, on PCB guidance, following which the ACC is likely to take action against the behaviour of the Indian team.

Now that ACC has completed its investigation, the following steps are to be determined. It has been said that not only did the match referee instruct Salman Ali Agha not to shake hands with the Indian captain, but also avoided taking action against the Indian captain using “Operation Sindoor” during the post-match press conference.

Over the last 48 hours, the PCB has been busy, having not only complained to ICC about the handshake issue but also suspended their Director Usman Wahla for failing to take timely action against the match referee regarding the issue. For the upcoming games, Richie Richardson may replace Andy Pycroft as the match referee for the Pakistan matches in the Asia Cup 2025.

Now, as Pakistan faces the UAE on 17th September, as the virtual KO game for qualifying for the Super-4 of the Asia Cup, it has been confirmed that Pakistan’s pre-match press conference has been cancelled. 

According to recent reports, a decision on Pakistan’s participation in the tournament is expected to be made within the next 12 hours. However, currently, the situation does not look promising, as the PCB appears to be still upset with team India’s lack of handshake, pre- and post-match. 

Not ideal as India are due to meet Pakistan in the last four of the Asia Cup. 

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