By Staff Reporter
LAHORE: Indian cricket captain Suryakumar Yadav faces potential disciplinary action from the International Cricket Council (ICC) after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) lodged a complaint accusing him of politicising the game following India’s Asia Cup victory over Pakistan on September 14, with the ICC confirming it is reviewing the matter and may convene a formal hearing.
The controversy erupted after Yadav dedicated the win to the families of victims of the April Pahalgam terror attack, which killed at least 24 people and sparked a brief military escalation between the nuclear-armed neighbours, with New Delhi blaming Islamabad without evidence.
The ICC acknowledged the PCB’s complaint in a statement reported by Hindustan Times on Thursday, saying it is examining allegations that Yadav breached the code of conduct on neutrality by injecting politics into cricket.
A formal hearing could be initiated, allowing Yadav to accept the charge or contest it before the ICC match referee, with representatives from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the PCB present.
The PCB submitted a detailed letter to the ICC demanding strict action against Yadav, alleging he had “involved the game in politics and damaged its reputation.” The letter said Yadav deliberately referenced the Pahalgam incident and Operation Sindoor, arguing his conduct violated the spirit of the ICC’s code of conduct.
It recalled that the ICC had previously declared slogans such as “Free Gaza” and “Freedom is Human Right” to be violations, and warned that without action, “the cricket field would risk becoming a political arena.” The PCB further stated that Yadav’s statements were directly against Pakistan, requiring the strictest possible measures.
During the post-match presentation ceremony in Dubai after India’s seven-wicket win in the group stage, Yadav said “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.”
“Hope they continue to inspire us all, and we give them more reasons on the ground whenever we get an opportunity to make them smile.”
The PCB described the comments as “political” and accused Yadav of using the match as a platform for political messaging. At a subsequent press conference, Yadav went further, saying the Indian team avoided handshakes with Pakistani players on instructions from the BCCI and the Indian government. “Our government and BCCI, we were aligned today… We came here to just play the game,” he remarked.
Citing a Dainik Jagran report, Hindustan Times said match referee Richie Richardson sent an email to the Indian team management acknowledging two official reports from the PCB regarding Yadav’s presentation speech and press conference remarks.
The September 14 clash marked the first meeting between the rivals since a four-day armed conflict in May that left more than 70 people dead. Tensions were evident from the start, with captains not shaking hands at the toss and players refraining from greetings after the match, according to ESPNcricinfo, which noted that “handshakegate” has remained a topic of debate throughout the Asia Cup.
India’s refusal to exchange a traditional handshake at the toss was reportedly directed by match referee Andy Pycroft. The drama escalated to the point where the PCB considered pulling out of the tournament altogether, but the situation was defused after Pycroft admitted to mishandling aspects of the controversy and expressed regret, according to the PCB.
Many observers described Yadav’s actions as “unprecedented” and “damaging for the spirit of the game,” with the Indian captain accused of crossing boundaries of sportsmanship by dragging politics into cricket.
In a rematch on Sunday, India secured a six-wicket victory, chasing down a 172-run target with ease in Dubai. The ongoing row between the arch-rivals has drawn considerable attention both on and off the field, stemming from the group-stage clash.
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