Pakistan seek match referee's removal after India refuse to shake hands

DUBAI : Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson expressed disappointment at India's decision not to shake hands with his team after Sunday's Asia Cup match, which prompted the Pakistan Cricket Board to seek match referee Andy Pycroft's immediate removal.

India won the Group A encounter by seven wickets in the first cricket match between the sides since a four-day military conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours in May.

While the match overseen by Zimbabwean Pycroft passed without incident, there was no shaking of hands between the captains at the toss or among the players at the end.

"We were ready to shake hands at the end of the game, we obviously are disappointed that our opposition didn't do that," Hesson told reporters.

"We sort of went over there to shake hands and they'd already gone into the changing room.

"That was a disappointing way for the match to finish, and a match we were disappointed for the way we played, but we were certainly willing to shake hands."

Pakistan captain Salman Agha did not attend the presentation ceremony, which New Zealander Hesson said was a "follow-on effect" of India's refusal to shake hands.

VICTORY DEDICATED TO ARMED FORCES

India captain Suryakumar Yadav dedicated the victory to their armed forces at the ceremony, and expressed solidarity with the victims of the April 22 attack in Indian Kashmir which triggered the conflict.

"We took a call (on not shaking hands). We came here to just play the game. We have given a proper reply," Suryakumar said in a post-match press conference.

PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi called it a "lack of sportsmanship" and said they had lodged a complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) against Pycroft for a code of conduct "violation."

"The PCB has demanded an