The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has suspended its Director of International Cricket, Usman Wahla, after the no-handshake saga that followed Pakistan’s defeat to India in their Asia Cup 2025 Group A clash in Dubai.
Why Wahla Was Removed
According to A Sports, Wahla was removed from his position because of the delay in issuing a formal response to the controversy. Reports suggest the PCB was dissatisfied that it took several hours before a protest was lodged against match referee Andy Pycroft and India’s actions.
How the Controversy Unfolded
Once India captain Suryakumar Yadav hit the match-winning six to seal a seven-wicket win, he and partner Shivam Dube walked straight off the field without shaking hands with Pakistan players. Salman Ali Agha and coach Mike Hesson later approached the Indian dressing room but found the doors shut.
Hesson, visibly upset, spoke to match referee Pycroft regarding the matter. On Monday morning, the PCB officially filed a complaint against India for not showing “sportsman’s spirit” and later escalated the matter by filing a protest with the ICC against Pycroft’s handling of the situation.
The PCB also demanded Pycroft’s removal from the remainder of the tournament and, according to multiple reports, even threatened to pull out of the Asia Cup if their demands were ignored.
Political Backdrop and Suryakumar’s Stand
The no-handshake decision came in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. Suryakumar Yadav and Salman Agha also avoided a handshake at the toss earlier in the day.
After the match, Suryakumar dedicated India’s victory to the Armed Forces, saying:
“Some things are beyond a sportsman’s spirit. We stand in solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.”
India Outclass Pakistan in Dubai
On the field, the contest was one-sided. India chased down Pakistan’s modest total of 128 in just 15.5 overs, with 25 balls remaining. Suryakumar led from the front with an unbeaten 47, while Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma contributed 31 each.
Earlier, India’s spin trio of Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Varun Chakaravarthy picked up six wickets combined to restrict Pakistan to 127/9. Kuldeep Yadav, with figures of 3/21, was named Player of the Match.
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