Dubai, September 26, 2025: India captain Suryakumar Yadav has been found guilty of breaching the ICC Code of Conduct for comments referencing the recent military skirmish between India and Pakistan after their Asia Cup group-stage match on September 14.
According to ESPNcricinfo, Yadav’s not-guilty plea was rejected by match referee Ritchie Richardson, who fined him 30% of his match fee. The BCCI has lodged an appeal, though it remains unclear when the hearing will take place.
The PCB had formally complained to the ICC, citing Yadav’s remarks at the presentation ceremony and post-match press conference, where he dedicated India’s victory to the country’s armed forces. The PCB argued the comments directly referenced the May clashes with Pakistan and urged the ICC to impose a Level 4 sanction, the most severe penalty under its code.
The board also pointed to previous ICC decisions treating humanitarian or political messages as breaches, including the case of Usman Khawaja, who was barred from wearing shoes carrying the message “Freedom is a human right” in reference to Gaza.
Meanwhile, Pakistan players Sahibzada Farhan and Haris Rauf also faced disciplinary hearings on Friday over their conduct in the Super Four clash on September 21. Farhan drew scrutiny for a gun-miming celebration after his half-century, while Rauf was caught on camera making hand gestures interpreted as alluding to downed aircraft.
Both players pleaded not guilty, insisting their actions were not political. Farhan told officials the celebration was a “spur-of-the-moment” reaction rooted in Pashtun tradition, while Rauf questioned the interpretation of his gesture, maintaining it was directed at fans and “not linked to politics.”
No verdict has yet been announced for the Pakistani players, but sources suggest fines remain the most likely outcome.
The controversy comes ahead of the Asia Cup 2025 final between Pakistan and India in Dubai on Sunday, further intensifying an already charged rivalry.
