Dubai: Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav was on Thursday advised by ICC match referee Richie Richardson to avoid making statements that could be perceived as political during an official hearing triggered by a complaint from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
The hearing followed Suryakumar’s not-guilty plea regarding his post-match remarks, in which he expressed support for Indian Army personnel involved in Operation Sindoor and solidarity with victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.
A separate hearing against Pakistan cricketers Sahibzada Farhan and Haris Rauf, based on a complaint filed by the BCCI, is scheduled for Friday, as both players are in action against Sri Lanka on Thursday.
The PCB’s complaint reportedly fell within the seven-day window following the September 14 India-Pakistan match, during which Suryakumar had declined to shake hands with the Pakistani team and dedicated India’s victory to the armed forces involved in Operation Sindoor. He also paid tribute to Pahalgam terror attack victims during the prize distribution ceremony and media interactions.
“Surya attended the ICC hearing today, accompanied by the BCCI’s COO and Cricket Operations Manager. Richardson explained that he should refrain from comments that could be seen as political. The sanction, if any, is yet to be determined. As it falls under Level 1, it could range from a warning to a 15% deduction in match fees. Surya pleaded not guilty, which is why the hearing took place,” a source familiar with the matter told PTI on condition of anonymity.
Earlier, the BCCI had filed an official complaint with the ICC against Rauf and Sahibzada for provocative gestures during the Asia Cup Super 4 match last Sunday. The complaint, reportedly submitted on Wednesday, details their on-field conduct.
During the September 21 match, Rauf made gestures mocking India’s military action, coinciding with chants of “Kohli, Kohli” by Indian supporters in reference to the star’s match-winning sixes against him in the 2022 T20 World Cup. Rauf also hurled abuses at Indian openers Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma during his bowling spell.
Sahibzada, meanwhile, celebrated with a gun-firing gesture, using his bat as a machine gun—an act widely criticized. “That celebration was just a spur-of-the-moment thing. I don’t usually celebrate after scoring 50, but it just came to mind today. I don’t know how people will take it, and I don’t really care,” Farhan told reporters after the match.
Both players must explain their gestures at the ICC hearing, and sanctions could follow if their explanations are deemed unsatisfactory under the code of conduct.
Adding to the controversy, Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chairman Mohsin Naqvi posted a slow-motion video of Cristiano Ronaldo on ‘X,’ depicting a gesture similar to Rauf’s on-field action. Naqvi, also Pakistan’s Interior Minister, has a history of making provocative statements against India. The Ronaldo clip, in reality, shows the footballer demonstrating a dipping free-kick.
Whether the Indian team, now Asia Cup finalists, will share the dais with Naqvi remains uncertain. The issue has drawn attention from both the BCCI and ICC, and it remains to be seen if any action will be taken against him.
