ICC Warns India’s Suryakumar Yadav Over Political Remarks; Hearings for Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan Next
Dubai: The Asia Cup has entered stormy territory off the field, with tensions spilling beyond cricket. On Thursday (September 25), Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav was formally cautioned by the ICC match referee Richie Richardson to avoid making comments that could be interpreted as political. The warning came after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) lodged a complaint against his remarks following India’s group-stage victory over Pakistan on September 14.
Suryakumar had refused to shake hands with the opposition after the game and went on to dedicate the win to the Indian armed forces involved in Operation Sindoor, while also expressing solidarity with victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. His statements, made during both the presentation ceremony and post-match press conference, prompted Pakistan to approach the ICC within the stipulated seven-day window.
According to tournament sources, Surya pleaded “not guilty” during Thursday’s hearing, where he was accompanied by senior BCCI officials. “Richardson explained to him that he shouldn’t be making comments that could be seen as political. The sanction is not final yet, but under Level 1 offences it could either be a warning or a fine—typically a 15% deduction in match fees,” the source said.
Hearings Await Rauf and Farhan
The controversy is far from over. On Friday (September 26), Pakistan’s Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan will face hearings after the BCCI filed a complaint against their “provocative gestures” during the Super Four match between India and Pakistan on September 21.
Rauf allegedly mocked India’s military by making an airplane crash gesture after being taunted by fans chanting “Kohli, Kohli,” referencing Virat Kohli’s iconic sixes against him at the 2022 T20 World Cup. He was also accused of hurling abuses at Indian openers Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma, who responded with dominant batting displays.
Meanwhile, Sahibzada Farhan courted criticism with his celebratory “machine gun” gesture after scoring a fifty. Defending himself later, Farhan said: “It was just a moment at that time. I don’t usually celebrate after fifties, but it came to my mind suddenly. I don’t know how people will take it, and I don’t care.”
Both players will need to justify their actions in front of the ICC. If their explanations fail to convince the officials, sanctions under the Code of Conduct could follow.
Naqvi Stokes the Fire
Amidst these controversies, Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also heads the PCB and serves as Pakistan’s Interior Minister, stirred fresh debate with a cryptic social media post. On ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), Naqvi shared a slow-motion video of football star Cristiano Ronaldo, where the Portuguese forward appeared to mimic a dipping ball movement. Many interpreted the clip as a subtle nod to Rauf’s airplane-crash gesture, further fanning the flames.
The post has not gone unnoticed by the BCCI or the ICC, raising questions about whether the Indian team would be willing to share the stage with Naqvi during the Asia Cup final presentation ceremony.
With India and Pakistan set to meet in Sunday’s grand finale, the cricketing spotlight is increasingly being overshadowed by political undertones and off-field controversies. The coming days will reveal whether cricket’s governing bodies decide to step in with firmer action.
Published: September 26, 2025 | 08:33 AM IST
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