Handshake row
\nUsman Wahla, director of int\u2019l cricket, debarred for delayed correspondence to ICC, say sources
\n Lahore
\nPakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Director of International Cricket Usman Wahla has been suspended after failing to send a letter to the International Cricket Council (ICC) on time, sources revealed on Monday.
\nWahla was removed from his post after he failed to promptly forward an official letter concerning the Asia Cup handshake controversy, which has sparked heated debate across the cricketing world.
\nThe sources added that the delay in response caused frustration within the PCB leadership, ultimately leading to his suspension.
\nThe decision comes in the wake of the PCB\u2019s formal complaint to the ICC and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), demanding the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft from the ongoing Asia Cup 2025.
\nIt follows escalating tensions after Pakistan\u2019s high-profile clash against India in Dubai, where India secured a seven-wicket victory.
\nThe dispute arose at the toss, where both captains skipped the traditional handshake \u2014 an omission reportedly instructed by Pycroft.
\nIn a series of post on X, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the current Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president, expressed outrage over the Indian team\u2019s actions having the \u201clack of sportsmanship\u201d.
\n\u201cThe PCB has lodged a complaint with the ICC regarding the match referee\u2019s 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,\u201d Naqvi wrote in a post on X earlier today.
\nNaqvi, in another post, said: \u201cThere is nothing more important to me than the honor and prestige of my country.\u201d
\nIn its letter, the PCB argued that the referee\u2019s decision undermined the spirit of cricket and contravened the MCC\u2019s long-standing laws.
\n\u201cNo handshakes were exchanged before or after the match, which is a direct violation of the game\u2019s traditions,\u201d the letter read. It further alleged that Pycroft had \u201cfailed to fulfil his responsibilities as match referee\u201d and breached the ICC Code of Conduct.
\nTensions rose further after India\u2019s victory on Sunday. While Indian players celebrated and walked off to the dressing room, they did not engage in the customary handshake with the Pakistani team, who had lined up in anticipation.
\nThe snub left Pakistan\u2019s players visibly disappointed, leading skipper Salman Ali Agha to boycott the post-match presentation ceremony in protest.
\nThe controversy intensified when PCB media manager Naveed Akram Cheema raised the matter with Tournament Director Andrew Russell.
\nAt first, Russell claimed the instructions had been issued by the Indian cricket board, but later clarified that the directive had, in fact, come from the Indian government.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Handshake row Usman Wahla, director of int\u2019l cricket, debarred for delayed correspondence to ICC, say sources Lahore Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Director of International Cricket Usman Wahla has been suspended after failing to send a letter to the International Cricket Council (ICC) on time, sources revealed on Monday. Wahla was removed from his post after […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":503128,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-503096","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n