Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has suspended its Director of International Cricket, Usman Wahla, over the handshake controversy that has shaken the Asia Cup 2025. According to sources, Wahla failed to send an official letter to the International Cricket Council (ICC) on time, which triggered his suspension.
The PCB leadership was frustrated with the delay. Wahla’s failure to forward the letter regarding the handshake controversy was seen as negligence, and he was removed from his post. The suspension came soon after the PCB formally complained to both the ICC and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). The board demanded the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft from the tournament.
This entire row started during Pakistan’s high-voltage clash with India in Dubai. India won the game by seven wickets, but the spotlight shifted to the toss. Both captains skipped the traditional handshake, which the PCB claims was on the instructions of Pycroft. The act sparked global debate and became a central part of the handshake row.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also heads the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), expressed his anger on X. He wrote that the Indian team showed a “lack of sportsmanship.” Naqvi confirmed that the PCB had filed a formal complaint, accusing Pycroft of violating the ICC Code of Conduct and ignoring MCC traditions.
“The match referee acted against the spirit of cricket,” Naqvi wrote. He also declared that nothing matters more to him than the country’s honor and prestige.
In its complaint letter, the PCB stated that the referee’s actions undermined the game’s traditions. “No handshakes were exchanged before or after the match,” the letter said. It further accused Pycroft of failing to carry out his duties as referee. The letter also insisted that his conduct amounted to a breach of ICC rules and MCC laws.
The handshake dispute escalated further after India’s victory. Pakistani players lined up for the customary handshake, but the Indian team walked away in celebration. The snub left Pakistan’s squad visibly upset. In protest, skipper Salman Ali Agha refused to attend the post-match presentation ceremony.
PCB media manager Naveed Akram Cheema immediately took the issue to Tournament Director Andrew Russell. At first, Russell claimed that the Indian cricket board had given the instructions. Later, he clarified that the directive had come from the Indian government itself.
The handshake controversy has now become a major flashpoint in the Asia Cup. It has not only strained relations on the field but also highlighted political undertones influencing the game.