Pakistan have expressed anger over India's cold behavior during the ongoing Asia Cup in the UAE. Tensions rose after India captain Suryakumar Yadav ignored his Pakistani counterpart, Salman Agha, at the toss before their Group A clash in the Asia Cup 2025 on Sunday. Following India’s seven-wicket victory, the Indian players also refused to shake hands with the Pakistan team, further fueling the controversy.

In response, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has demanded the immediate removal of match referee Andy Pycroft from the tournament. Mohsin Naqvi, the PCB chairman and current president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), warned that Pakistan would boycott their next match against hosts UAE if their demand is not met.

India’s Stand Communicated Before the Game

According to reports, Suryakumar Yadav informed Pycroft before the high-profile match that India would not engage in handshakes or regular courtesies with Pakistan. The referee then passed this information to Pakistan captain Salman Agha, advising him not to offer his hand at the toss.

This move did not sit well with the PCB. Initially, Pakistan lodged a formal complaint with Pycroft regarding India’s conduct. However, after further discussions, they escalated the matter to the International Cricket Council (ICC).

PCB Calls for Match Referee’s Removal

Naqvi confirmed that the PCB has taken the issue to the ICC, accusing Pycroft of violating the ICC Code of Conduct and the Spirit of Cricket guidelines.

“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,” Naqvi stated in a post on social media.

To increase pressure, Pakistan has also threatened to skip their upcoming Group A fixture against the UAE in Dubai on Wednesday.

Stakes High for Pakistan in Group A

Pakistan started their Asia Cup campaign strongly, defeating Oman by 93 runs in their opening game. However, their momentum was halted by India, who handed them a seven-wicket defeat just two days later.

On Monday, UAE defeated Oman by 42 runs, setting up a virtual knockout between UAE and Pakistan. The winner will join India in the Super 4 stage.

If Pakistan carries out their threat and boycotts the match, the UAE will automatically receive two points. This would allow them to qualify alongside India, effectively eliminating Pakistan without a contest.

ICC Likely to Reject PCB’s Demand

Cricbuzz reported that the ICC, led by former BCCI secretary Jay Shah, is unlikely to accept Pakistan’s request to remove Pycroft. If the ICC turns down their demand, Pakistan will face a tough decision — either play the match and fight for qualification or stick to their boycott threat and risk an early exit.