Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has suspended Director International Usman Wahla over the recent handshake controversy, citing his failure to manage the situation during the high-voltage Asia Cup clash between Pakistan and India in Dubai.
At the same time, the PCB has written to the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), demanding the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft from the ongoing tournament. The board has warned it may reconsider Pakistan’s participation in the Asia Cup if he is not replaced.
According to sources, the PCB accused Pycroft of neglecting the Spirit of the Game during Sunday’s match. The board said it had repeatedly stressed the importance of upholding the spirit, but the referee failed in his duties. The letter also alleged that Pycroft violated the ICC Code of Conduct and acted against MCC laws, calling his conduct a “serious breach.”
The controversy began when Indian players refused to exchange handshakes with their Pakistani counterparts after the match. Earlier, both captains also skipped the traditional handshake at the toss. Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson strongly criticized the behavior, describing it as “against the spirit of the game.”
Tensions escalated further after Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav dedicated the victory to the armed forces, making political remarks in his post-match comments.
“We stand with the victims of the Pahalgam attack and their families. We dedicate today’s win to our armed forces,” Yadav said.
In response, Pakistan team manager Naveed Akram Cheema lodged a formal protest, terming India’s actions “a violation of sportsmanship.” He revealed that the match referee had instructed captains not to shake hands at the toss, but no such guidance was given for after the game.
As a mark of protest, Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha skipped the post-match presentation ceremony. Coach Hesson backed the move, saying: “What the Indian team did was inappropriate. Pakistan’s response was natural.”
With emotions running high, the PCB has doubled down on its stance, calling for Pycroft’s removal from the Asia Cup. Meanwhile, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has taken notice of the incident and is considering possible disciplinary action against the Indian team.
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