Suryakumar pleads not guilty after PCB complaint over Pahalgam remarks

Tensions between India and Pakistan at the Asia Cup spilled off the field this week, with both cricket boards filing formal complaints against rival players’ conduct. India captain Suryakumar Yadav pleaded “not guilty” before the International Cricket Council (ICC) after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) accused him of making politically charged remarks in his post-match comments on September 14.

Suryakumar had dedicated India’s seven-wicket victory over Pakistan to the “bravery” of the Indian armed forces and expressed solidarity with families of victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. His remarks prompted the PCB to move the ICC, leading to a hearing in Dubai on Thursday conducted by match referee Richie Richardson.

Sources said Suryakumar, backed by BCCI officials, denied breaching any code of conduct. A verdict is expected on September 26.

The controversy deepened after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) lodged its own protest over “provocative gestures” by Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan and pacer Haris Rauf during the September 21 clash.

Farhan mimicked a “gun celebration” with his bat after reaching fifty, while Rauf was seen gesturing towards the crowd and engaging in verbal spats with Indian openers Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma. Their hearing, overseen by match referee Andy Pycroft, is scheduled for Friday, a day after Pakistan face Bangladesh.

The Asia Cup encounters marked the first India-Pakistan meetings since the April Pahalgam terror attack, which triggered military escalation between the two countries. Symbolism has loomed large: neither Suryakumar nor Pakistan captain Salman Agha shook hands at the toss before either game.

Amid the rising heat, the PCB also demanded Pycroft’s removal, alleging he had discouraged handshakes before the first match. The board later tweeted that the ICC official had apologised to Pakistan’s team management.

With verdicts pending on both sides, the rulings expected September 26 could decide not just disciplinary action but also set the tone for the remainder of a politically charged Asia Cup.