The International Cricket Council (ICC) has cautioned India captain Suryakumar Yadav to steer clear of political statements after his post-match comments following the Group A clash against Pakistan in Dubai on September 21.
According to Telecom Asia Sport sources, ICC match referee Richie Richardson chaired the hearing, where Suryakumar was shown video footage of his remarks. The skipper, accompanied by BCCI COO Hemang Amin and Cricket Operations Manager Sumeet, admitted his mistake.
The ICC committee told Suryakumar to stay away from political statements in future. They impressed upon him that if everyone starts making political points, it will become impossible to handle.
While sanctions were not disclosed, officials indicated the Indian captain was formally warned against further political remarks.
PCB Complaint Sparks Hearing
The matter was escalated after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) lodged a complaint with the ICC, alleging Suryakumar’s post-match comments breached the Code of Conduct. In his speech, Suryakumar dedicated the win to victims of the April 22 Pahalgam tragedy and referred to “Operation Sindoor”, a military operation launched in response.
Refusal To Shake Hands Adds Fuel
The controversy deepened after Suryakumar refused to shake hands with his counterpart Salman Agha at the toss, while the Indian team collectively avoided the customary handshakes post-match.
Our government and BCCI — we were aligned today. Rest, we took a call [about not shaking hands]. We came here to just play the game. We have given a proper reply.
Explaining his stance, the skipper added: “When we came here, team and support staff decided 75 to 80 percent outside noise needed to be cut off. My team insulates me from outside noise.”
When asked if this approach breached the spirit of the game, Suryakumar was blunt: “Few things are ahead of sportsman spirit. We stand with all victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and dedicate it to the Armed Forces who took part in Operation Sindoor.”
Pakistan Players Also Summoned
The ICC has also summoned Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan and Haris Rauf for separate hearings on Friday. Farhan drew criticism for mimicking a firing gesture with his bat, while Rauf gestured “6-0” in reference to Pakistan’s claim of shooting down six Indian planes during a military conflict in May.
Both hearings underline the ICC’s stance that political symbolism and gestures have no place on the cricket field, particularly during a high-stakes Asia Cup already brimming with tension.
