Suryakumar Yadav, the Indian T20 captain, recently faced an International Cricket Council (ICC) hearing following a complaint filed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The complaint stemmed from Yadav's post-match comments after India's victory against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 group stage on September 14. The PCB alleged that Yadav's remarks politicized cricket and violated the ICC's code of conduct, which aims to uphold the sport's neutrality.
Specifically, the PCB took issue with Yadav dedicating the win to the families of the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and expressing solidarity with the Indian armed forces. Yadav had stated, "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 reportedly viewed these comments as politically charged.
The ICC hearing, presided over by match referee Richie Richardson, took place on Thursday, September 25. Yadav was accompanied by BCCI COO Hemang Amin and Cricket Operations Manager Summer Mallapurkar. During the hearing, Yadav was shown video clips of his press conference and admitted to making the statements.
While the article title suggests Suryakumar Yadav pleaded not guilty, other sources suggest the ICC advised Yadav to refrain from making political statements in the future. The ICC reportedly emphasized that such comments could be difficult to manage if everyone made them.
According to sources, Yadav may escape with a warning or a minor penalty, potentially a 15% deduction in his match fee.
In a separate but related incident, the BCCI filed a formal complaint with the ICC against Pakistani players Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan. The complaint concerned their conduct during the Asia Cup Super Four clash on September 21, specifically Farhan's animated celebration after reaching his half-century and Rauf's provocative gestures toward fans. These actions sparked considerable debate on social media. Rauf and Farhan are expected to attend an ICC hearing on Friday.
