Lahore, September 15, 2025: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has suspended its Director of International Cricket, Usman Wahla, after he allegedly delayed forwarding a crucial communication to the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding the Asia Cup handshake controversy, sources confirmed on Monday.
According to insiders, Wahla was removed from his role after failing to promptly act on an official letter related to the issue, causing frustration within the PCB leadership. His suspension comes as the Board escalates its protest against Asia Cup match referee Andy Pycroft, whose handling of the Pakistan-India clash has drawn widespread criticism.
The PCB had earlier filed a formal complaint with both the ICC and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), demanding Pycroft’s removal from the tournament. The controversy erupted in Dubai during the Pakistan-India match, where both captains skipped the customary pre-match handshake—reportedly under Pycroft’s instructions.
In its complaint, the PCB argued that the decision undermined the spirit of cricket and violated the MCC’s long-standing laws.
“No handshakes were exchanged before or after the match, which is a direct violation of the game’s traditions,” the letter stated, adding that Pycroft had “failed to fulfil his responsibilities as match referee” and breached the ICC Code of Conduct.
The situation further escalated after India’s seven-wicket victory on Sunday. While the Indian team celebrated and returned to the dressing room, they did not engage in the traditional post-match handshake, leaving Pakistani players—who had lined up in anticipation—visibly disappointed. In protest, captain Salman Ali Agha refused to attend the presentation ceremony.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also heads the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), voiced strong criticism on social media.
“The PCB has lodged a complaint with the ICC regarding the match referee’s violation of the ICC Code of Conduct and MCC laws. The referee acted against the spirit of cricket. We have demanded the immediate removal of Andy Pycroft from the Asia Cup,” Naqvi wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
The matter deepened when PCB media manager Naveed Akram Cheema raised the protest with Tournament Director Andrew Russell. Initially, Russell claimed the directive had been issued by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), but later clarified that it originated from the Indian government.
