PCB Suspends Director International Cricket Over Handshake Controversy

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly suspended its Director of International Cricket, Usman Wahla, following the fallout from the controversial handshake row during the Asia Cup 2025 clash against India.

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also heads the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), allegedly took the step after internal reviews concluded that Wahla failed to manage the issue effectively during one of the tournament’s most high-profile fixtures.

According to board sources, Wahla was expected to safeguard Pakistan’s position in matters relating to sportsmanship during the game. However, his handling of the incidents, where match referee Andy Pycroft stopped the two captains from the customary handshake at the toss, and Indian players avoiding shaking hands post-match, was deemed unsatisfactory.

Pakistan players were left standing as Indian players disappeared into the locker room after the game. Suryakumar Yadav also issued politically charged statements in his post-match interview, issues the PCB believes Wahla should have addressed more assertively.

While more details are awaited, the general consensus is that India’s refusal to engage in pre-match protocol should have been flagged earlier and resolved before the game commenced.

Chairman Naqvi recently commented on the matter via social media, stating, “There is nothing more important to me than the honor and prestige of my country.”

The suspension of its Director of International Cricket by the PCB signals board’s intent to hold its own officials accountable while continuing to apply pressure on international governing bodies. With the possibility of a Pakistan boycott of the Asia Cup still looming, the board appears determined to assert its stance on sportsmanship, fairness, and national dignity, setting the stage for a tense standoff that could reshape the tournament’s narrative.

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