“Pakistan have surrendered because…” - Madan Lal lashes out at Pakistan team for their boycott drama

Former Indian cricketer Madan Lal has slammed the Pakistan team for their off-field boycott drama after the Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian team decided not to shake hands on Sunday, September 14, in Dubai. 

For the unversed after India secured a comfortable seven-wicket win over Pakistan in the group stage game of the ongoing Asia Cup 2025 campaign, the Indian players decided not to shake hands with Pakistani players.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was then quick to lodge an official complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC), demanding that the match referee Andy Pycroft be replaced for violating the code of conduct. 

A day later, they also decided to boycott their UAE clash in the group stage. However, they eventually had to participate in their clash against the UAE. Also, the ICC quickly rejected PCB’s claims, and Andy Pycroft continued to be the match referee in the Pakistan vs UAE clash.

"Pakistan have surrendered because their demand was not genuine. First of all, why should we shake hands with them, it is not mentioned in any rulebook. Secondly, why should match referee Andy Pycroft be sacked. Pakistan have so many people interfering in one matter and if you see the condition of PCB, there's no board. They take a decision just like that and that's not right because at international level, you have to be extremely sure whenever you take any decision," Madan Lal said on India Today.

"If you are not going to play, then who will suffer? You are going to suffer. If Pakistan would have boycotted the match against UAE, they would have caused an irreparable damage to their cricket,” he added.

India will lock horns with their arch-rivals Pakistan for the second time in the Asia Cup 2025 campaign in the Super Four clash on Sunday, September 21.

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