India’s stand-in captain Suryakumar Yadav has landed himself in hot water after being found guilty of breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during the high-stakes Asia Cup 2025 encounter against Pakistan on September 14 in Dubai.
The controversy stems from Suryakumar’s post-match remarks, where he dedicated India’s victory to the armed forces and the families of victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. While his comments drew applause from many back home, they sparked immediate objections from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which argued that the statement dragged politics into cricket.
According to sources, match referee Richie Richardson along with other ICC officials summoned Suryakumar shortly after the game. He was reminded that while players are free to express themselves, the governing body’s rules strictly prohibit political messaging on the field or in official post-match interactions.
Though the ICC has confirmed that Suryakumar was found guilty, the exact nature of the sanction hasn’t been publicly disclosed yet. Penalties in such cases can range from an official reprimand and demerit points to financial fines. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has already appealed the decision, insisting that Suryakumar’s words were a gesture of solidarity rather than a political statement.
Meanwhile, the ICC is also reviewing the actions of Pakistan players Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan, both of whom came under scrutiny for “provocative celebrations” during the same match. Their verdicts are expected to be announced in the coming days.
The incident has once again reignited the sensitive debate over how politics and sport often collide, particularly in the subcontinent’s fiercest cricket rivalry. For now, Suryakumar remains eligible to play, but the episode has cast a shadow over what was otherwise a thrilling contest between the arch-rivals.
