(Image Credit: NDTV Sports)
The widely-discussed Asia Cup 2025 handshake issue seems to be on its way to an end. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has removed Director of Cricket Operations Usman Walha, naming him as one of the main perpetrators of the controversy that hogged the headlines following the India vs Pakistan encounter.
Walha, sources say, did not brief skipper Salman Agha on the tournament's "no-handshake" procedure and left the Pakistan players in the dark, and unnecessary controversy was created when the traditional gesture was eschewed at the toss.
PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi had allegedly ordered Walha's sacking forthwith, citing the disgrace to the team and the chance that Pakistan would even have contemplated withdrawing from the competition if the matter was not sorted out.
The second person at the center of the saga, match referee Andy Pycroft, is set to be replaced in Pakistan's upcoming games. It has been reported that the International Cricket Council (ICC) has given in to PCB's demand that Richie Richardson be assigned match referee duties for the rest of Pakistan's Asia Cup matches.
This step is likely to put an end to the ongoing tension between PCB and ICC, which had intensified after the incident.
Though there were whispers that Pakistan was threatening to pull out of the tournament, sources say this was a negotiating ploy. Withdrawing from the Asia Cup might have cost PCB close to USD 16 million in revenue from the Asian Cricket Council's distribution pool.
"Losing that sum would have been approximately seven percent of PCB's yearly income, something the board cannot afford to lose," said a source.
With Walha's sacking and Pycroft's replacement imminent, PCB feels the problem has been addressed successfully. The board is hoping the limelight will now turn to cricket as Pakistan readies itself for its remaining Asia Cup matches.
"Walha ought to have made a statement right at the toss when the two captains did not shake hands. Naqvi was angry that the situation was dealt with so badly," a PCB source informed PTI.
As Naqvi remains at the helm of the ACC, he is supposed to see to the smooth running of the tournament and broadcaster relations, which were under threat during the crisis.
