The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly suspended its Director of International Cricket Operations, Usman Wahla, after Pakistan’s seven-wicket defeat to India in the 2025 Asia Cup. The disciplinary action, according to Pakistani media outlets, was linked to Wahla’s “failure to act swiftly” during the post-match handshake controversy.

The flashpoint came when Indian players declined to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts at the end of the high-voltage fixture. What is usually a simple sporting courtesy turned into a storm, with the PCB accusing match referee Andy Pycroft of mishandling the situation and demanding his immediate removal.

India’s captain, Suryakumar Yadav, defended the team’s move, saying it was intended as a mark of respect for the victims of the recent Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives. Indian authorities have blamed Pakistan-backed groups for the assault. According to Suryakumar, the refusal to engage in handshakes was a “symbolic tribute,” even as the team’s participation against Pakistan drew criticism back home.

The PCB, however, has taken the matter further. Having raised its concerns with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), the board has now approached the International Cricket Council (ICC). This has added another layer of tension since PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi currently heads the ACC, while the ICC is led by India’s Jay Shah. It is worth noting that the Asia Cup falls directly under ACC governance, not the ICC.

Naqvi, in a statement on X, said: “The PCB has lodged a complaint with the ICC regarding breaches of the ICC Code of Conduct and MCC Laws related to the Spirit of Cricket. We have asked for the immediate removal of the Match Referee from the Asia Cup.”

The PCB has also claimed that Pycroft advised Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha at the toss to avoid shaking hands with his Indian counterpart, and even discouraged the usual exchange of team sheets. Team manager Naved Cheema has since lodged a formal complaint with the ACC against the referee.

With disciplinary action taken internally and formal complaints now lodged at both continental and global levels, the fallout from the Asia Cup clash has widened the rift between the two cricketing rivals.