India captain Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf were fined 30 per cent of their match fees after being found guilty of breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during the heated Pakistan–India encounter on September 14.
Match referee Richie Richardson rejected Suryakumar’s not guilty plea, ruling that his remarks after the game referenced recent military skirmishes between the two nations.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had filed a complaint over Suryakumar dedicating the victory to India’s armed forces, arguing that it constituted political messaging. The ICC treated the matter as a Level 1 offence and imposed the fine.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan also faced disciplinary hearings over incidents during the Super Four clash on September 21. Farhan was summoned for his “gun celebration” after reaching a fifty, while Rauf was accused of gestures that appeared to reference military action.
Both players denied political intent, insisting their actions were taken out of context. Rauf argued that his “6-0” gestures referred to cricketing terms — a six and a duck — rather than politics, while Farhan described his gun celebration as a cultural expression of joy common among Pathans, citing examples of cricketers like MS Dhoni and Viv Richards who have used similar gestures.
Although reports indicated that Rauf could face a 50 per cent fine, the ICC ultimately imposed a 30 per cent deduction from his match fee along with a warning. Farhan, however, escaped a financial penalty but was cautioned for his celebration.
The tensions between the two sides have been escalating throughout the Asia Cup, marked by confrontations on the field, refusal to shake hands, and subsequent complaints lodged by both cricket boards.
While the ICC has attempted to limit political messaging within the game, both boards have used the disciplinary process to highlight perceived provocations, further heightening the already charged atmosphere of the rivalry.
