Suryakumar Yadav, the captain of the Indian cricket team, has been fined 30 percent of his match fee for comments made after India's Asia Cup 2025 group stage match against Pakistan on September 14. The fine was levied by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) lodged a formal complaint. The complaint stemmed from Yadav dedicating India's victory to the Indian Armed Forces and expressing solidarity with the families of victims of the recent terror attack in Pahalgam.

Pakistan argued that Yadav's comments introduced political elements into the sport, violating the ICC's code of conduct. Specifically, the PCB took issue with Yadav's reference to "Operation Sindoor". Following the complaint, the ICC summoned Yadav for a hearing presided over by match referee Richie Richardson.

During the hearing, Yadav pleaded not guilty, asserting that his comments were not politically motivated. Despite his plea, the ICC issued a warning to Yadav, instructing him to refrain from making any further statements that could be construed as political for the remainder of the tournament. In addition to the warning, Yadav was penalized 30% of his match fee.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly challenging the ICC's ruling. The BCCI officials Hemang Amin and Sumeet Mallapurkar stood by him during the proceedings.

Tensions between the Indian and Pakistani sides have been high throughout the Asia Cup 2025. Prior to this incident, the Indian team management declined to shake hands with Pakistani players after the toss and after the game, as a gesture of solidarity with the Pahalgam victims.

Meanwhile, the ICC is also investigating a complaint lodged by the BCCI against Pakistani players Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan for their conduct during the India vs Pakistan Super Four match on September 21 in Dubai. Rauf allegedly made provocative gestures referencing Pakistan's unsubstantiated claims of downing Indian aircraft during past border skirmishes. Farhan, who marked his half-century with a "machine-gun" celebration, drew criticism for what many considered an inappropriate gesture. The ICC has demanded written explanations from both players.