Our Bureau
Dubai
The Indian team’s decision to not shake hands with the Pakistan team after defeating them by 7 wickets in a pretty one sided match, was a huge surprise for the fans. However it was reported that this was already informed to the match referee, Andy Pycroft and he had informed the Pakistani skipper about it much before.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had put out a statement stating that Pakistan’s captain Salman Ali Agha was informed by the match referee Pycroft to not engage in a handshake during the toss with the Indian skipper. The PCB have called out India’s decision stating that it was ‘unsportsmanlike’ conduct and have decided to lodge a protest against it officially.
PCB confirmed the decision in a statement, which read, “The match referee Andy Pycroft had asked captain Salman Ali Agha, at the time of the toss, not to shake hands with his Indian counterpart. The Pakistan team management has lodged a protest, calling the behaviour against the spirit of sports.”
The board has also stated that after the whole incident their captain Salman took the decision to skip the post-match presentation ceremony as a form of protest against the Indian team. PCB revealed, “Salman Ali Agha skipped the post-match presentation in protest against the behaviour of the Indian team, as the ceremony host was also an Indian.”
The Pakistani team also tried to approach the Indian dressing room in an attempt to engage in a friendly act with the Indian side. However, they were denied straightaway with the doors of the Indian dressing room being shut right in their faces. Pycroft had also suggested Salman and his men to avoid approaching Suryakumar or other Indian players for handshakes.
