India vs Pakistan: BCCI says shaking hands a goodwill gesture, not in the rulebook

A senior Board of Control for Cricket in India ( BCCI) official on the condition of anonymity told PTI that the customary handshake at the end of a cricket match is just a goodwill gesture, following the controversy in the match between India and Pakistan.

Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav did not shake hands with Pakistani counterpart Salman Agha at the toss. Later, after the match none of the Indian players exchanged pleasantries with the Pakistani players.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has lodged an official complaint with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). However, the BCCI official made it clear that shaking hands is not in the rulebook.

The official said that there is no such law that forces players to shake hands at the end of the game, adding that it made no sense for the Indian players to have any sort of interaction with the Pakistani players, given the tension between the two countries.

"Look, if you read the rule book, there is no specification about shaking hands with the opposition. It is a goodwill gesture and a sort of convention, not law, that is followed globally across the sporting spectrum," the senior BCCI official told PTI.

"If there is no law, then the Indian cricket team is not bound to shake hands with an opposition with whom there is a history of a strained relationship," he added.

Meanwhile, the PCB has demanded the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft from the ongoing competition, alleging violation of the 'Code of Conduct' by him.

"The PCB has lodged a complaint with the ICC regarding violations by the Match Referee of the ICC Code of Conduct and the MCC Laws pertaining to the Spirit of Cricket. The PCB has demanded the immediate removal of the Match Referee from the Asia Cup," PCB and ACC chief Mohsin Naqvi said on 'X'.