Asia Cup 2025: Suryakumar Yadav pleads not guilty to PCB's complaint
A boycott, as requested by the Indian audience at the time of the Asia Cup 2025 schedule announcement, would have been less dramatic than the events unfolding now. Despite massive outrage against the India vs Pakistan fixtures at the subcontinental tournament, the fixtures went ahead as planned after the Indian government's approval. Now, as the Asia Cup heads toward the ultimate showdown, India and Pakistan have set up their third meeting of the edition. Their previous meetings, highly contentious and charged-up affairs, meanwhile, have led to ICC hearings. Suryakumar Yadav attended the hearing over the PCB's complaint against his comments.
Suryakumar Yadav told to refrain from making political comments ahead of the India vs Pakistan Asia Cup final
Following the mandates of its board, the Indian cricket team took the field against Pakistan on 14 September to play the group-stage fixture against the arch-rivals in Asia Cup 2025. While Suryakumar Yadav and Co. completed the assigned task, claiming a thumping seven-wicket victory in Dubai, the unit ensured taking a bold stance against Pakistan. The Indian captain did not indulge Salman Ali Agha in a handshake during the toss. Moreover, the team snubbed the opponents following the match, refusing to engage in customary handshakes.
Enraged by India's act, the Pakistan skipper boycotted the post-match chat. However, Suryakumar Yadav took the mic and ensured that he expressed his and his team's stance. The Indian captain paid his respects to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and the martyrs of Operation Sindoor. Playing against the rivals for the first time since the heinous incidents earlier this year, SKY sent a reminder that it's not at all forgotten.
PCB followed the handshake row with intense drama, dragging the match referee Andy Pycroft into the puddle and escalating the matter to the ICC. One of the many moves that the Pakistan Cricket Board made was filing a complaint against the Indian captain for making political comments. The hearing of the matter was held after the India vs Pakistan Super 4 clash, which the Men in Blue won by six wickets.
Latest reports have revealed that Suryakumar Yadav pleaded not guilty to the accusations filed by the PCB. However, the ICC referee, Richie Richardson, directed the skipper to refrain from making any comments that could be framed as having political undertones. Further details are awaited in the matter, as it is still unclear whether the ICC will follow the directive with sanctions and demerit points for the Indian captain.
Suryakumar Yadav is not the only player lined up before the ICC for the India vs Pakistan showdown. The India vs Pakistan Super 4 clash witnessed multiple Pakistani players blurring the lines between sports and politics. Haris Rauf, who was heard screaming 6-0 during a training session, brought his delusional views onto the field as well. The Pakistani speedster was involved in a heated spat with Indian openers Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill during the chase.
Furthermore, with the match already out of his team's hands, an erratic Rauf made some contentious gestures while fielding at the boundary line. The pacer showed planes crashing down, reiterating Pakistan's false narrative of damaging Indian fighter jets during Operation Sindoor. Moreover, Sahibzada Farhan followed his half-century with a 'gun celebration' during the same fixture. The BCCI took note of Rauf and Farhan's offensive moves and filed a complaint with the ICC. With the Pakistan vs Bangladesh Super 4 contest scheduled for Thursday, Rauf and Farhan's hearing is reported to be lined up for Friday.
Meanwhile, for the first time in over four decades of Asia Cup history, India and Pakistan have set up the final against each other. After beating Sri Lanka in the Super 4 stage, the Men in Green clinched an 11-run victory over Bangladesh to qualify for the Asia Cup final. The Men in Blue are scheduled to play Sri Lanka before heading into the India vs Pakistan final. India is yet to be beaten in Asia Cup 2025, with two consecutive dominant victories over the arch-rivals in the ongoing edition.
