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Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has defended match referee Andy Pycroft, criticising Pakistan for creating unnecessary controversy over the handshake issue after India's Asia Cup win. Ashwin highlighted that India had informed the referee in advance about their decision to avoid handshakes, accusing Pakistan of unfairly targeting Pycroft and demanding his removal.

Pakistan have cancelled its pre-match press conference before their Asia Cup Super Four clash against India, marking the second consecutive time they've skipped media duties. This follows a dispute with match referee Andy Pycroft over a handshake controversy during their previous encounter. The PCB's request to remove Pycroft was rejected, leading to heightened tensions and potential ICC action against Pakistan.

Despite recent controversies and objections from the Pakistan Cricket Board regarding Andy Pycroft's conduct, the ICC has appointed him as the match referee for the crucial Asia Cup 2025 Super 4s match between India and Pakistan. This decision follows PCB's allegations and a subsequent threat to withdraw from the tournament, which was later resolved through negotiations.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has responded to the ICC's concerns regarding potential PMOA violations during a recent match. The PCB defended its media manager's actions, claiming authorised access and adherence to ICC protocols, while the ICC raised objections to filming a sensitive meeting and alleged blackmail. The situation remains tense, potentially leading to further action from the ICC.

The Asia Cup 2025 is embroiled in controversy after India's refusal to shake hands with Pakistan sparked a major standoff. The PCB demanded the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft, delaying a match against the UAE. The ICC accused PCB of protocol breaches, including unauthorised recording within the PMOA.

The Asia Cup is marred by a handshake controversy following India's victory over Pakistan, escalating with Mohammad Amir's veiled critique of the Indian team via a social media post praising Virat Kohli. This incident led to scheduling disruptions, including a delayed Pakistan-UAE match due to PCB's concerns over the match referee.

Pakistan brushed aside the UAE by 41 runs to storm into the Super Four, setting up a blockbuster rematch against arch-rivals India on Sunday at the Dubai International Stadium.

Amidst controversy and tension, Pakistan's captain, Salman Ali Agha, asserts his team's readiness for the Super Four clash against India. Despite past incidents, including handshake disputes and standoffs, Salman emphasises the need for batting improvement, particularly in the middle order. He expresses confidence in the team's ability to overcome any challenge if they maintain their recent performance level.

A major standoff threatened Pakistan's Asia Cup 2025 match against UAE after the ICC refused to replace match referee Andy Pycroft, despite PCB objections over his handling of the 'no-handshake' controversy with India. Initial uncertainty saw Pakistan delaying their departure for the game, and the ACC even deleted posts about the match.

The Pakistan Cricket Board is contemplating withdrawing from the Asia Cup due to a dispute over match referee Andy Pycroft following the India-Pakistan match. Pakistan demands Pycroft's removal, accusing him of mishandling the no-handshake incident and Suryakumar Yadav's dedication of the win to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.

The ICC rejected PCB's request to replace match referee Andy Pycroft during the Asia Cup after Pakistan alleged he instructed their captain to avoid handshakes with India's captain. The ICC clarified that ACC officials informed Pycroft about the no-handshake policy.

Following India's victory over Pakistan in the Asia Cup, a controversy arose when the Indian team refused to shake hands, dedicating their win to armed forces after a terror attack. The PCB filed a complaint with the ICC, alleging the match referee Andy Pycroft instructed captains against shaking hands.

Pakistan Cricket Board is in a standoff with the International Cricket Council. This follows a handshake controversy with the Indian team. PCB threatens to boycott their Asia Cup match against UAE. They demand the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft. If Pakistan withdraws, they will be eliminated. India has already qualified for the Super 4s.

Tensions escalate as Pakistan threatens to boycott remaining Asia Cup 2025 matches if match referee Andy Pycroft isn't removed. PCB alleges Pycroft instructed their captain to avoid handshakes with India, further accusing Suryakumar Yadav of unsportsmanlike conduct post-match. India's captain dedicated the win to terror attack victims and armed forces, adding fuel to the fire.