India’s Suryakumar Yadav talks to Shivam Dube throughout the Asia Cup 2025 match in opposition to Pakistan at Dubai Worldwide Cricket Stadium, Dubai, UAE, on September 14, 2025. — Reuters
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Director of Worldwide Cricket Usman Wahla has been suspended after failing to ship a letter to the Worldwide Cricket Council (ICC) on time, sources revealed on Monday.
Wahla was faraway from his put up after he did not promptly ahead an official letter in regards to the Asia Cup handshake controversy, which has sparked heated debate throughout the cricketing world.
The sources added that the delay in response induced frustration throughout the PCB management, finally resulting in his suspension.
The choice comes within the wake of the PCB’s formal grievance to the ICC and the Marylebone Cricket Membership (MCC), demanding the elimination of match referee Andy Pycroft from the continued Asia Cup 2025.
An undated image of PCB Director of Worldwide Cricket Usman Wahla. — PCB
It follows escalating tensions after Pakistan’s high-profile conflict in opposition to India in Dubai, the place India secured a seven-wicket victory.
The dispute arose on the toss, the place each captains skipped the normal handshake — an omission reportedly instructed by Pycroft.
In a collection of put up on X, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who can also be the present Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president, expressed outrage over the Indian workforce’s actions having the “lack of sportsmanship”.
“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 match referee took action against the spirit of cricket. We have demanded the immediate removal of Andy Pycroft from the Asia Cup,” Naqvi wrote in a put up on X earlier at present.
Naqvi, in one other put up, mentioned: “There is nothing more important to me than the honor and prestige of my country.”
In its letter, the PCB argued that the referee’s determination undermined the spirit of cricket and contravened the MCC’s long-standing legal guidelines.
“No handshakes were exchanged before or after the match, which is a direct violation of the game’s traditions,” the letter learn. It additional alleged that Pycroft had “failed to fulfil his responsibilities as match referee” and breached the ICC Code of Conduct.
Tensions rose additional after India’s victory on Sunday. Whereas Indian gamers celebrated and walked off to the dressing room, they didn’t have interaction within the customary handshake with the Pakistani workforce, who had lined up in anticipation.
The snub left Pakistan’s gamers visibly disillusioned, main skipper Salman Ali Agha to boycott the post-match presentation ceremony in protest.
The controversy intensified when PCB media supervisor Naveed Akram Cheema raised the matter with Event Director Andrew Russell.
At first, Russell claimed the directions had been issued by the Indian cricket board, however later clarified that the directive had, in truth, come from the Indian authorities.
