‘Even Kindergarten Kids Behave Better’: Ex-India Cricketer Slams Pakistan’s Boycott Drama | Cricket News

Salman Ali Agha and team manager Naveed Akram Cheema speak (Picture credit: AFP)

Former India left-arm spinner Murali Kartik has said that Pakistan’s threat to boycott their clash against the UAE hours before the match and eventually going out to play the game was a childish behaviour on an international stage, adding that even kindergarten children behave better.

After the no-handshake controversy during the India vs Pakistan game in Dubai on Sunday, September 14, the PCB expressed displeasure with match referee Andy Pycroft’s behaviour.

The ICC dismissed the PCB’s concerns and chose not to remove Pycroft. As a result, he continued to serve as the match referee for Pakistan’s Group A game against the UAE on Wednesday.

Kartik criticised the PCB for their lack of professionalism, calling them out for delaying and failing to show up on time for the game.

“The only word I can think of right now is absolutely childish and churlish. I can’t think of anything else. If you wish to take a stand, please proceed. I think for everybody in life, you take a stand, but stick to it, have the conviction to stick to it,” Kartik said while speaking on Cricbuzz.

“Just because when you see, oh, there could be a financial implication, which literally is 16 million US dollars over a handshake saga or over something like this. I can’t think of anything,” Kartik said.

“I think people in kindergarten, even kids in kindergarten nowadays, do not behave like this,” Kartik added.

Pakistan had earlier refused to leave its hotel for the must-win group game, as Pycroft was to officiate the match that began at 9 pm IST instead of the scheduled 8 pm IST due to the continued drama.

Teams are required to report to the stadium two hours before the start of the match, which Pakistan couldn’t do in protest.