New Delhi: Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav was reminded by ICC match referee Richie Richardson to avoid making political remarks during official events,
following a complaint filed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The hearing took place on Thursday in Dubai where Suryakumar pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from his post-match comments after India’s Asia Cup clash against Pakistan earlier this month.
In the first encounter with Pakistan in the tournament Suryakumar had dedicated India’s win to the armed forces for their Operation Sindoor mission in May and expressed solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. He also refused to shake hands with Pakistani players after the match which prompted the PCB to escalate the matter.
According to sources, Richardson explained to the Indian skipper that such comments could be seen as political in nature which the ICC code of conduct discourages. The possible sanction is expected to be minor, ranging from an official warning to a fine worth 15 percent of his match fee.
BCCI complaint against Farhan and Rauf
While Suryakumar’s case was heard on Thursday, a separate hearing awaits Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan and Haris Rauf after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) lodged a complaint over their on-field gestures. Both cricketers are accused of provocative celebrations during the India-Pakistan Super 4 encounter on September 21.
Rauf was seen making gestures mimicking the downing of a plane which many linked to past military tensions while also being heard abusing Indian openers Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma. Farhan celebrated his fifty by imitating gunfire with his bat, a move that drew sharp criticism. He later claimed it was spontaneous and insisted he “did not care” how people viewed it.
If their explanations fail to satisfy the ICC, the duo could face sanctions under the code of conduct. The hearing is scheduled once Pakistan completes its Super 4 match against Sri Lanka.
Naqvi’s cryptic post adds fuel
The controversy deepened when Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chairman and PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi posted a cryptic video on social media platform ‘X’.
The clip showed football star Cristiano Ronaldo describing a dipping free-kick but the gesture bore resemblance to Rauf’s plane-crash action on the field.
Mohsin Naqvi post (Image via ‘X’)
Naqvi’s post has raised eyebrows within both the ICC and BCCI, especially given his role as Pakistan’s interior minister and his history of provocative statements. With India Pakistan set to face other in the Asia Cup final for the first time in tournament’s history, questions remain over whether the Indian team will be comfortable sharing the presentation stage with Naqvi.
The ICC is expected to monitor the situation closely but for now the spotlight remains firmly on how both boards will handle the delicate balance between sporting conduct and political undertones.
