According to reports, India captain Suryakumar Yadav has been found guilty by the ICC of breaching the code of conduct for his comments that alluded to the military skirmish between India and Pakistan, following their group-stage match in the Asia Cup on September 14.
It is understood that Suryakumar’s not-guilty plea was rejected by ICC match referee Richie Richardson, and he was reportedly fined 30% of his match fee. India have appealed against the verdict.
Two Pakistan players, Sahibzada Farhan and Haris Rauf, also faced disciplinary hearings on Friday over their actions in the Super Four clash between the two sides on September 21. Farhan was questioned for his gun celebration after reaching fifty, while Rauf was caught on camera making gestures that appeared to allude to the downing of aircraft. Both players are still awaiting confirmation on possible sanctions.
According to reports, the PCB had lodged a complaint with the ICC, arguing that Suryakumar’s remarks after the September 14 match — both at the presentation ceremony and in the press conference — breached regulations prohibiting political messaging. In his speech, Suryakumar had said he was dedicating the victory to “our armed forces,” later clarifying that this referred to Indian forces involved in a military operation against Pakistan in May, which had triggered cross-border clashes.
The PCB demanded that the ICC impose a Level 4 sanction — the most serious category under the Code of Conduct — citing previous cases where players were penalized for political statements. It pointed to past ICC rulings, such as when messages drawing attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza were deemed political, including the recent instance where Usman Khawaja was stopped from wearing shoes bearing the slogan “Freedom is a human right.”
It remains unclear whether India’s appeal has been heard or when it will take place. Normally, the match referee sets the time and venue, but India are scheduled to face Sri Lanka in their final Super Four match on Friday evening before meeting Pakistan in Sunday’s final. If Suryakumar’s appeal is unsuccessful, his punishment could be increased.
The September 14 group match had already been marked by high tension, with Indian players refusing to shake hands with Pakistan both at the toss and after their seven-wicket win. Their Super Four meeting later saw confrontations between Pakistan’s bowlers and India’s openers, with Abhishek Sharma accusing Pakistan of “coming at us for no reason.”
In that match, Farhan celebrated his half-century with a gun-firing gesture, which he later described as “spur of the moment,” while Rauf made repeated aircraft-downing gestures while fielding near the boundary — widely interpreted as a reference to the recent conflict.
According to reports, both Farhan and Rauf pleaded not guilty, insisting their gestures were not political. While a final ruling is still pending, the PCB privately accepts that both players are also likely to face fines.
It is understood that Suryakumar’s not-guilty plea was rejected by ICC match referee Richie Richardson, and he was reportedly fined 30% of his match fee. India have appealed against the verdict.
Two Pakistan players, Sahibzada Farhan and Haris Rauf, also faced disciplinary hearings on Friday over their actions in the Super Four clash between the two sides on September 21. Farhan was questioned for his gun celebration after reaching fifty, while Rauf was caught on camera making gestures that appeared to allude to the downing of aircraft. Both players are still awaiting confirmation on possible sanctions.
According to reports, the PCB had lodged a complaint with the ICC, arguing that Suryakumar’s remarks after the September 14 match — both at the presentation ceremony and in the press conference — breached regulations prohibiting political messaging. In his speech, Suryakumar had said he was dedicating the victory to “our armed forces,” later clarifying that this referred to Indian forces involved in a military operation against Pakistan in May, which had triggered cross-border clashes.
The PCB demanded that the ICC impose a Level 4 sanction — the most serious category under the Code of Conduct — citing previous cases where players were penalized for political statements. It pointed to past ICC rulings, such as when messages drawing attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza were deemed political, including the recent instance where Usman Khawaja was stopped from wearing shoes bearing the slogan “Freedom is a human right.”
It remains unclear whether India’s appeal has been heard or when it will take place. Normally, the match referee sets the time and venue, but India are scheduled to face Sri Lanka in their final Super Four match on Friday evening before meeting Pakistan in Sunday’s final. If Suryakumar’s appeal is unsuccessful, his punishment could be increased.
The September 14 group match had already been marked by high tension, with Indian players refusing to shake hands with Pakistan both at the toss and after their seven-wicket win. Their Super Four meeting later saw confrontations between Pakistan’s bowlers and India’s openers, with Abhishek Sharma accusing Pakistan of “coming at us for no reason.”
In that match, Farhan celebrated his half-century with a gun-firing gesture, which he later described as “spur of the moment,” while Rauf made repeated aircraft-downing gestures while fielding near the boundary — widely interpreted as a reference to the recent conflict.
According to reports, both Farhan and Rauf pleaded not guilty, insisting their gestures were not political. While a final ruling is still pending, the PCB privately accepts that both players are also likely to face fines.
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