ICC orders probe into India captain Suryakumar Yadav after Pakistan’s complaint over his post-match Asia Cup comments. [Photo: PTI]
After the International Cricket Council (ICC) accepted a complaint from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav found himself in trouble. The complaint was based on his comments following India’s Asia Cup win over Pakistan on September 14, 2025. The ICC has confirmed that it is reviewing the case and could hold a formal hearing against the Indian skipper.
According to a report by Dainik Jagran, match referee Richie Richardson sent an email to the Indian team management. In the email, he confirmed receiving two official reports from the PCB. These reports raised concerns about Suryakumar’s remarks during the post-match presentation and press conference.
Richardson said the ICC found the comments serious enough to consider them damaging to the image of cricket.
ALSO READ: India announce squad for home Test series against West Indies; Rishabh Pant misses out due to injury
“The ICC has asked me to handle two reports lodged by the Pakistan Cricket Board regarding comments made by your captain, Suryakumar Yadav, during the presentation and post-match press conference after the India vs Pakistan match on September 14 2025. After examining the full reports and reviewing the evidence, I have concluded that a charge should be brought against Suryakumar Yadav for conduct that brings the game into dispute by making inappropriate comments, which are detrimental to the interest of the game," the email reportedly said.
After India’s win over Pakistan, Suryakumar had dedicated the victory to the families of the Pahalgam terror attack victims. He also expressed support for the armed forces.
“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,” he said during the post-match presentation.
ALSO READ: Q2 Karnataka Men's T20 for the Blind 2025: Points table shaken after action
In the press conference, he also revealed that the Indian team avoided handshakes with Pakistani players as per guidance from the BCCI and the government.
“Our government and BCCI, we were aligned today... We came here to just play the game,” he had said.
Richardson clarified that Suryakumar can either accept the charge or face a formal hearing. If the hearing goes ahead, it will involve the ICC match referee, representatives from both the BCCI and PCB, and Suryakumar himself. The charges fall under the ICC’s code of conduct relating to neutrality in international cricket.
The PCB accused Suryakumar of politicising cricket. It argued that his comments breached ICC’s neutrality rules. The situation reflects the rising tension between the two boards during this Asia Cup.
ALSO READ: PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi Shares Ronaldo Video Amid Fighter Jet Downing Gesture Row
Earlier, the BCCI had lodged complaints against Pakistani players Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan for on-field misconduct. Now the PCB has escalated matters with its own protest.
This dispute shows how closely cricket is still linked to the political ties between India and Pakistan. Although Suryakumar's remarks were patriotic, they have spurred discussion about how to strike a balance between maintaining the game's neutrality and national pride.
The ICC’s decision could affect Suryakumar’s role as a captain and may also set a guideline for dealing with political statements in cricket in future tournaments.
