Usman Wahla's shocking suspension by PCB linked to Shaheen Afridi amid Asia Cup drama!!

The real reason behind the suspension of Pakistan’s Director of International Cricket Operations Usman Wahla has been revealed. Earlier, some reports suggested that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) removed Usman Wahla from his position for his inability to handle the handshake controversy.

According to the Pakistani media, Usman Wahla was suspended by the PCB, headed by Mohsin Naqvi, for not acting quickly when the handshake controversy exploded during the high-profile India vs Pakistan match in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025 in Dubai on September 14.

PCB turns harsh in the wake of diplomatic fallout in the Asia Cup 2025

The controversy began at the toss when the match officials instructed both captains, Salman Ali Agha and Suryakumar Yadav, not to shake hands. And then, after India’s seven-wicket victory, Suryakumar and his players refused to shake hands with their Pakistani opponents.

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Read Also: Gautam Gambhir held liable for no-handshake controversy, action demanded from India teammate

After this incident hit the headlines and diminished Pakistan cricket’s image, the PCB blamed match referee Andy Pycroft for not handling the situation properly and demanded his removal, accusing him of worsening tensions between the two cricketing rivals.

Later, Suryakumar Yadav defended his team’s decision, saying it was a sign of solidarity with the families of the 26 victims of the Pahalgam terror attack, linked to Pakistan-backed militants. Despite criticism in India over playing against Pakistan, the team wanted to show their respect to the victims and the Indian armed forces involved in Operation Sindoor.

Usman Wahla loses his job for disrespecting the team’s sentiment

Now, it is being said that Usman Wahla lost his job, not because of his handling of the incident, but because of not respecting the team’s values.

The Pakistan Cricket Board suspended Wahla after it came to light that he sent Pakistan’s star fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi to collect the post-match award after India’s cold behavior.

Shaheen Afridi had reportedly resisted attending the post-match ceremony after the Men in Blue had completely ignored them after the match. Despite this, Wahla forced Shaheen to go and represent Pakistan in the post-match ceremony in Dubai.

Read Also: India expose Pakistan’s blatant lie in Asia Cup, reject 'Andy Pycroft' claims in no-handshake row

Usman Wahla suspended for pushing Shaheen Afridi into the ceremony

Once PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi got to know that Wahla had pressured Afridi into attending the presentation on behalf of the Men in Blue, he acted swiftly and suspended him from his position, as reported by Revsportz on Tuesday, September 16.

Revsportz posted on X: “Usman Wahla was suspended by the PCB because he sent Shaheen Shah Afridi to collect the post-match award after the India-Pakistan game despite the Pakistan pacer resisting going to the post-match presentation. PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi made the decision after it was informed to him that it was Wahla who pushed Afridi to collect the award.”

🚨 Usman Walha was suspended by the PCB because he sent Shaheen Shah Afridi to collect the post-match award after India-Pakistan game despite the Pakistan pacer resisting on going to the post-match presentation. PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi made the decision after it was informed to… pic.twitter.com/Zdh98EWmRH

— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) September 16, 2025

Pahalgam victims’ families slam India’s victory tribute

Meanwhile, the Indian team dedicated their victory over Pakistan to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and the armed forces, but the families of the slain still condemned it. They said the real tribute would have been to skip the Asia Cup 2025 match altogether.

The clash was the first India-Pakistan game after diplomatic tensions escalated earlier this year. In the Pahalgam attack, 26 people were brutally killed by four terrorists from The Resistance Front, an offshoot of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, after checking their religion.