India’s cricket captain, Suryakumar Yadav, has been found guilty by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for violating the code of conduct following remarks made after India’s group match against Pakistan in the Asia Cup on September 14. The ICC’s match referee, Richie Richardson, dismissed Yadav’s not-guilty plea, though the exact punishment has yet to be determined.
In response, India has filed an appeal against the decision. This follows a report from the previous day that indicated the ICC had reprimanded Yadav for his political comments regarding the military clash between India and Pakistan. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had lodged an official complaint about Yadav’s remarks, accusing him of politicizing the game and violating ICC’s neutrality code.
The PCB’s complaint detailed how Yadav’s comments harmed the spirit of the game, and the board demanded a Level 4 sanction, which is the highest level of punishment under the ICC Code of Conduct. In a hearing regarding the issue, the PCB argued that Yadav’s statements damaged cricket’s reputation.
The controversy occurred during the high-profile India-Pakistan match, which drew considerable attention both on and off the field. Meanwhile, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) filed complaints against two Pakistani cricketers, Sahibzada Farhan and Haris Rauf, for alleged political celebrations during their match. However, both players denied any political intent, with Rauf and Farhan submitting written responses during the hearing held in Dubai.
India and Pakistan have only played against each other in multinational tournaments due to political tensions, with their last encounter in the Asia Cup set to take place in the final on Sunday.
