India, Sept. 16 -- The ongoing Asia Cup 2025 has taken a controversial turn with Pakistan formally asking for the suspension of match referee Andy Pycroft after India's refusal to engage in the customary pre- and post-match handshakes during their Sunday match

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has submitted an official protest to the International Cricket Council (ICC), calling the act a "breach of the spirit of cricket" and accusing Pycroft of being complicit. According to PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, the referee allegedly instructed Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha not to shake hands with Indian players at the toss. Naqvi described the incident "utterly disappointing", saying that dragging politics into cricket undermines the values the s...