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"Unnecessary Drama": Anil Chaudhary Shows Pakistan Mirror For Handshake Controversy

Arnav Chopra

Anil Chaudhary and Salman Ali Agha (Source: @CricCrazyJohns/X.com)Anil Chaudhary and Salman Ali Agha (Source: @CricCrazyJohns/X.com)

Controversies have failed to die down in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025, where the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have been at loggerheads with the International Cricket Council (ICC) after the handshake controversy with India. However, former Indian umpire Anil Choudhary has given his verdict on the massive controversy that is shaking the world of cricket.

Chaudhary Unimpressed With Pakistan About Handshake Controversy

The controversy has taken the cricketing world by storm, with handshakes being discussed more often than not at this time of the month, as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Indian cricket team have disagreed over the handshakes that the Men in Blue snubbed following their match on September 14th.

A game that ended in India's favour saw the green shirts getting disbanded by the Indian side as they refused to shake hands with them following the game and during the toss. However, speaking to the news wire agency ANI, former Indian umpire Anil Chaudhary has given his verdict on the controversy, calling it unnecessary.

"I think that after losing the match, it was a part of turning things around. Otherwise, in any law book, in any ICC's playing conditions, there is nothing in writing. I understand the shakehand controversy you are referring to, the handshake started about 15-20 years ago. The captain used to shake hands before. So, I think all that is unnecessarily created, and there is no need for it," Anil Chaudhary said to ANI.

He added that there is no rule in the International Cricket Council's (ICC) or Marylebone Cricket Club's (MCC) book or manual regarding handshakes before or after the game, as this ritual was initiated 15 or 20 years ago and is not set by the governing bodies.

"I think the people who complained also knew that there was no point in doing this in the field. And you can't do this. I don't know who their administrators were, what they did, but by doing this, they will know that nothing is going to happen," he added.

He further added that this controversy shouldn't have erupted and, in fact, he's unimpressed by the Pakistan Cricket Board, as he believes there was no point in putting in the complaint, as this was only to trouble the administrators, even adding that there was no end result to this, considering this created only problems for everyone.

Chaudhary Defends Pycroft Amid Serious Allegations

Amid all the controversy, former Zimbabwean cricketer and current ICC elite panel match referee Andy Pycroft was involved in this turmoil, where the PCB asked the ICC to remove Pycroft for this game, which the governing body actually refused, and then the emails were shot out to each other during this time frame.

Further adding, Chaudhary backed Pycroft and mentioned that he's a seasoned umpire, and all the things that the PCB mentioned were really unnecessary and unrealistic.

"All these are unnecessary things. He is a seasoned and old referee from the ICC elite panel. He is a very well-known player of Zimbabwe, and his track record is so good," he concluded.

As for Pakistan, their recent victory over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has helped them to qualify for the Super 4 stage, where they will be first facing the Indian side on September 21st, Sunday, at 8:00 PM at the Dubai International cricket stadium, as both these sides will be looking to go face to face once again against each other in round two of the Asia Cup 2025.