By Zainab Shafiq 
According to reports, the ICC has found India captain Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf guilty of breaching its Code of Conduct during the ongoing Asia Cup, with both players fined 30% of their match fees. The decisions come amid heightened political undertones in the tournament and complaints filed by both the PCB and the BCCI.
Suryakumar Yadav’s Breach
Suryakumar Yadav was charged following India’s group-stage clash with Pakistan on September 14. After securing a seven-wicket win, the India skipper dedicated the victory to “our armed forces,” remarks later clarified as a reference to India’s forces involved in a military operation against Pakistan in May. The PCB lodged a complaint, arguing the statement violated ICC rules prohibiting political messaging.
The not-guilty plea entered by Suryakumar was rejected by ICC match referee Richie Richardson, who imposed the 30% fine. India have appealed the verdict, though it is unclear when the appeal will be heard. If unsuccessful, the sanction could be increased.
The PCB had demanded that the ICC impose a Level 4 sanction, reserved for the most serious breaches, citing previous cases where political or humanitarian messages were disallowed. Among those examples was Usman Khawaja being prevented from wearing shoes with the words “Freedom is a human right” during Australia’s home Test season.
Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan Hearings
On the Pakistan side, Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan were summoned to disciplinary hearings after the Super Four match against India on September 21 in Dubai.
During that fiery encounter, Rauf was filmed responding to taunts from Indian fans by signalling “6-0” with his hands and miming the downing of aircraft — an apparent reference to the India-Pakistan military conflict earlier this year. He has now been fined 30% of his match fee by Richardson.
Farhan, who had celebrated his half-century with a gun-shooting gesture, admitted the act was “spur of the moment.” He was ultimately let off with a warning, avoiding a financial penalty.
Both players had pleaded not guilty, insisting their actions were not political. However, the BCCI lodged complaints against them, just as the PCB did against Suryakumar. It should be noted that Surya was verbal, and actually mentioned Pahalgam victims in the conference.
Rising Tensions on the Field
The disciplinary rulings come against a backdrop of mounting tensions between the two rivals. Before the September 14 group match, Indian players refused to shake hands with their counterparts at both the toss and after the game. Later, in the Super Four fixture, tempers flared again, with Pakistan’s bowlers engaging in heated exchanges with India’s openers. Indian batter Abhishek Sharma accused Pakistan of “coming at us for no reason.”
What Comes Next
The Asia Cup final in Dubai on Sunday will see India and Pakistan face off for the third time in the tournament. Both camps are keen to move past the disciplinary controversies, but the sanctions underline the ICC’s stance on keeping political gestures out of cricket.
With both Suryakumar and Rauf fined, and Farhan escaping with only a warning, the ICC’s rulings send a clear message: political references, whether verbal or symbolic, will not be tolerated on the field.
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