India captain Suryakumar Yadav faces scrutiny after the International Cricket Council (ICC) admitted a complaint from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and launched a review into his post-match remarks following India’s Asia Cup group-stage victory over Pakistan on September 14, according to Indian media.
The ICC confirmed it is considering the PCB’s complaint, which accuses Yadav of politicising cricket and violating the code of conduct on neutrality. Officials said a formal hearing could be convened, giving Yadav the choice to accept the charge or contest it before an ICC match referee, alongside representatives from both the BCCI and PCB.
Sources said the PCB submitted a detailed letter to the ICC, demanding strict action against Suryakumar. The letter alleged that the Indian captain had “involved the game in politics and damaged its reputation.”
It maintained that all clauses of the ICC’s code of conduct applied to the September 14 match and that Yadav had deliberately referenced the Pahalgam incident and Operation Sindoor.
According to the letter, Suryakumar’s conduct went against the spirit of the code of conduct and warranted action. It recalled that the ICC had already declared slogans such as “Free Gaza” and “Freedom is Human Right” to be violations of the code of conduct.
The PCB further warned that if action was not taken, “the cricket field would risk becoming a political arena,” and concluded that the Indian captain’s statements were directly against Pakistan, requiring the strictest possible measures.
The review comes against the backdrop of an ongoing row between the arch-rivals, stemming from the group-stage clash, which attracted considerable attention both on and off the field.
The drama began when the Indian captain crossed all boundaries of sportsmanship by using his post-match presentation speech to drag politics into cricket, a move described by many observers as “unprecedented” and “damaging for the spirit of the game”.
Compounding the tension was India’s refusal to exchange a traditional handshake at the toss ceremony — an omission reportedly directed by match referee Andy Pycroft.
Matters escalated to the point where the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) considered pulling out of the Asia Cup altogether. The situation was defused only after Pycroft admitted to mishandling aspects of the controversy and expressed regret, according to PCB.
Adding to the row, Indian media reported that the BCCI has also lodged a complaint with the ICC against Pakistani players Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan for alleged provocative gestures during the same tournament. Video evidence has reportedly been submitted to match referee Andy Pycroft.
The Indian board alleged that Haris Rauf made jet crash gestures and signalled “six–zero” in response to spectators chanting “Kohli, Kohli”, while Sahibzada Farhan marked his half-century with a gunfire celebration. The BCCI claimed such actions were against the spirit of the game and demanded strict disciplinary action.
India won the September 14 group match by seven wickets in Dubai and afterwards refused to shake hands with their opponents, angering Pakistan. It was the first meeting between the neighbours since a four-day armed conflict in May left more than 70 people dead.
Following India’s victory, Suryakumar dedicated the win to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and expressed solidarity with the armed forces.
“Perfect occasion, taking the time out, we stand by the families of the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. We express our solidarity… Want to dedicate the win to all our armed forces who showed a lot of bravery,” he said during the presentation ceremony.
At the post-match press conference, Yadav went further, saying the Indian team avoided handshakes with Pakistani players on the instructions of the BCCI and the Indian government. “Our government and BCCI, we were aligned today… We came here to just play the game,” he remarked.
The PCB said these statements crossed the line, alleging that Suryakumar used the match as a platform for political messaging.
With the ICC now admitting the PCB’s complaint, Suryakumar faces potential disciplinary action if the hearing proceeds. A final decision is expected soon.
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