India vs Pakistan handshake row: the full timeline in simple words

The India–Pakistan match on September 14 ended on the scoreboard, but the off‑field story kept growing. India did not shake hands with Pakistan after the game. Pakistan protested, blamed the match referee Andy Pycroft, and even threatened to skip their next match. Here is the full timeline, step by step, in clear language.

September 14, Sunday – No handshake after India’s win

India beat Pakistan in Dubai. After the match, India did not line up for the traditional handshakes. Captain Suryakumar Yadav and head coach Gautam Gambhir also shared words of support for families affected by the Pahalgam terror attack and mentioned the armed forces. The moment set off strong reactions and started the controversy.

September 15, Monday – Referee pulled into the row

News came out that match referee Andy Pycroft had told Pakistan captain Salman Agha before the game that there would be no handshake. Pakistan’s board (PCB) said this was against the spirit of cricket and filed a complaint. They also asked that Pycroft be removed from their next match and replaced.

September 16, Tuesday – ICC says no to PCB’s demand

The ICC reviewed Pakistan’s request and said Pycroft had not done anything wrong. They refused to remove him. Pakistan, unhappy with this, started to signal that they might not play their next game against the UAE if Pycroft stayed on as referee.

September 17, Wednesday – Delay, a tense meeting, and a match

Hours before the Pakistan–UAE game, Pakistan’s players stayed back at the hotel as talks continued. Finally, a meeting was set up at the stadium between Pycroft and Pakistan’s team leaders. Pycroft explained he had only passed on the last‑minute message and expressed regret about the confusion and timing. Pakistan later said he apologised; others present said it was regret, not a formal apology. The match began after about an hour’s delay, with Pycroft still the referee.

September 18, Thursday – ICC objects to PCB’s video

The PCB posted a muted video clip of the stadium meeting to support its version. The ICC said filming inside the Players and Match Officials Area breaks protocol and called it a breach of rules. They also repeated that Pycroft had not committed misconduct and that swapping officials at a team’s request sets a bad precedent.

What this means for the rivalry

• The no‑handshake choice lit the fuse in a high‑pressure week.

• Pakistan’s push to remove the referee failed; the ICC stood by its process.

• Protocols around meetings and filming will be watched more closely.

• Ahead of the next India–Pakistan game, teams and officials are likely to keep words and gestures strictly about cricket.

Simple takeaway

A missing handshake turned into a major dispute. The referee shared a late instruction, Pakistan protested, and the ICC backed the referee and the rules. After a delayed start and a tense meeting, the cricket went on. The lesson for everyone: keep match‑day moments clear of off‑field issues, and handle sensitive messages with care.