NEW DELHI, Sept 26: The Indian T20 cricket team captain Suryakumar Yadav has been fined 30 per cent of his match fee for his ‘Pahalgam tribute’ comments alluding to the military skirmishes between India and Pakistan in May made after the on-going Asia Cup 2025 group stage match against Pakistan on September 14, the tournament organisers said on Friday.
Pakistan had filed a complaint against Suryakumar with the ICC for making political comments after he dedicated his team’s win over the arch foes on September 14 to the victims of Pahalgam terror attack and the Indian armed forces.
Suryakumar had pleaded not guilty to the charge and was apparently told not to make any statement that could be construed as political in the remainder of the tournament. The India skipper’s hearing was conducted by ICC match referee Richie Richardson. India have appealed against ICC’s verdict.
However, ICC sources said there would be an official press release, where the ‘correct’ quantum of punishment would be announced. The sources also claimed that the official statement may be out only after the Asia Cup 2025 final, which will take place on Sunday. Tensions between the two sides have been running high, starting with India’s refusal to do the traditional handshake with Pakistani players at the time of the toss and after the games, as a gesture of solidarity with the Pahalgam victims.
Meanwhile, Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf on Friday was also fined 30 percent of his match fees for rude and aggressive behaviour during the Asia Cup Super 4s match against India last Sunday. His teammate Sahibzada Farhan, however, escaped with a warning and no financial penalty for his open-air gunshot celebration after completing his half-century in the same match.
“Match referee Richie Richardson completed his hearing on Friday afternoon at the team hotel. Haris Rauf has been fined 30 percent of his match fees for aggressive behaviour, and Farhan has been let off with a warning,” a tournament source said. Earlier, Rauf and Farhan had pleaded not guilty during their ICC hearing for allegedly provocative actions in the match against India, according to tournament sources.
The hearing was conducted by match referee Richie Richardson at the Pakistan team hotel. Both players appeared before him in person, even though their responses were given in writing. They were accompanied by team manager Naveed Akram Cheema. The two were accused of making provocative gestures by the BCCI in a formal complaint on Wednesday. The bitter neighbours are due to clash in the final of the regional showpiece on Sunday.
(Manas Dasgupta)