**Murali Kartik Slams Pakistan Cricket Board and Team Over UAE Match Postponement**
Former Indian cricketer Murali Kartik has strongly criticised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Pakistan cricket team for their unprofessional conduct, following the postponement of their match against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by an hour on Wednesday, September 17.
The delay was reportedly caused by Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha and his team as an attempt to pressure the International Cricket Council (ICC) into removing Andy Pycroft from his role as match referee. This demand came in the wake of the “handshake incident” during the India-Pakistan match. Pakistan also threatened to boycott the game against the UAE if their demands were not met.
Speaking to Cricbuzz, Kartik did not hold back in expressing his disappointment, describing Pakistan’s actions as “churlish and childish.” He criticised the PCB for failing to stand firm and follow through on their convictions. According to Kartik, Pakistan reversed their stance after realising that boycotting the match could cost them millions in financial losses.
Kartik said,
> “The only word I can think of right now is absolutely childish and churlish. Just because when you see, oh, there could be a financial implication, which literally is 16 million US dollars over a handshake saga or over something like this. I can’t think of anything. I think people in kindergarten, even kids in kindergarten nowadays, do not behave like this.”
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### ICC Rejects Pakistan’s Appeal to Remove Andy Pycroft
Following the handshake controversy, the PCB reportedly warned the ICC that if their demand to remove Andy Pycroft as match referee was not met, they might pull out of the 2025 Asia Cup.
Pakistan had sent two formal letters to the ICC demanding Pycroft’s removal and an investigation into his alleged misconduct. However, according to Cricbuzz, the ICC responded by stating that Pycroft had been cleared in their independent inquiry and found not guilty of any wrongdoing.
While acknowledging the PCB’s right to file a complaint, the ICC also mentioned that ruling in Pakistan’s favour could set a risky precedent for future cases.
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### Andy Pycroft Apologises to PCB Over Handshake Controversy
Ahead of the match against the UAE, the PCB released an official statement confirming that Andy Pycroft had apologised to Pakistan’s team manager and captain over the handshake ban.
The statement read,
> “Controversial ICC match referee Andy Pycroft has apologized to the Pakistan cricket team’s manager and captain. Andy Pycroft had forbidden the captains of both teams from shaking hands during the India-Pakistan match. The Pakistan Cricket Board reacted strongly to Andy Pycroft’s action.”
Pycroft described the incident as a miscommunication and expressed regret for the confusion it caused during the high-profile encounter.
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This ongoing saga has drawn significant attention and criticism, highlighting tensions between Pakistan cricket authorities and the ICC amid high-stakes international tournaments. Fans and analysts alike await further developments as the situation continues to unfold.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/sports/asia-cup-2025-murali-kartik-terms-pakistan-team-childish-churlish-for-delaying-match-against-uae-video