Top 5 cricket controversies that shocked fans in 2025
While the game continued to produce exciting action, it was the constant off-and-on-field drama that generated immense eyeballs.
3. India's no-handshake stance
India’s no-handshake decision during the Asia Cup 2025 clash against Pakistan is another controversy on this list. Acting in collaboration with the BCCI and with approval from the Indian government, the Men in Blue decided before the match that there would be no exchange of handshakes, terming it a goodwill gesture rather than a mandatory rule. Captain Suryakumar Yadav later revealed that the team wanted to just play the game amid heightened political tensions.
However, Pakistan lodged a formal complaint, calling the decision against the spirit of cricket, while captain Salman Agha skipped post-match duties as a mark of protest. The issue soon led to a match referee controversy. ICC referee Andy Pycroft, who conveyed the no-handshake message minutes before the toss, was accused by the PCB of misconduct. The ICC later cleared Pycroft, terming the episode a case of miscommunication rather than a breach of protocol.
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