The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has suspended Usman Wahla, its Director of International Cricket, in the wake of the controversial handshake episode that marred Pakistan’s high-voltage Asia Cup 2025 clash with India.
Why Wahla Was Held Responsible
Sources within the board suggest Wahla was expected to anticipate and defuse potential flashpoints involving sportsmanship and protocol. Instead, his response to two incidents — the match referee halting the customary pre-toss handshake between captains and the Indian team skipping handshakes after the game — was viewed as inadequate.
The PCB reportedly believed Wahla should have taken stronger action, either by raising the issue before play began or ensuring it was formally addressed afterward.
Post-Match Fallout Intensifies Dispute
Tensions deepened when India’s Suryakumar Yadav delivered politically charged remarks in his post-match interview, comments that further fueled Pakistan’s frustration. Pakistani players, meanwhile, were left awkwardly waiting near the boundary as their Indian counterparts walked straight into the dressing room.
Chairman Mohsin Naqvi — who also heads the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) — later remarked that the prestige of Pakistan came before everything else, signaling that the board’s concerns extend beyond protocol into matters of national pride.
Wider Implications for the Asia Cup
By suspending a senior figure from within its own ranks, the PCB appears intent on sending a message: accountability begins at home, but pressure on international cricket authorities will not ease. The episode also ties into Pakistan’s broader warning of a possible Asia Cup boycott, which, if carried through, could reshape the tournament entirely.
The standoff highlights a growing political undercurrent in what is supposed to be a sporting event — with Pakistan using Wahla’s suspension as both an internal disciplinary step and a strategic signal to the ACC and the ICC.
