PCB Cites Breach of Code of Conduct after India–Pakistan Clash in Dubai
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is preparing to file a complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) against Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav for making political statements during the Asia Cup match between the two countries in Dubai, sources told Telecom Asia Sport (www.telecomasia.net).
India defeated Pakistan by seven wickets, but the contest ended on a bitter note when Indian players refused to shake hands with their opponents. Amidst that controversy, Suryakumar’s political remarks went largely unnoticed.
Suryakumar’s statement comes under a breach of the ICC Code of Conduct, and Pakistan has until Saturday (seven days from the incident) to lodge a formal complaint.
Suryakumar’s Controversial Remarks
At the post-match ceremony, Suryakumar dedicated India’s win to the victims of the April 22 Pahalgam tragedy and referenced Operation Sindoor, launched by India after the attack. The controversy began at the toss when Suryakumar refused to shake hands with his counterpart Salman Agha, a gesture repeated by the Indian team after the match.
Our government and the BCCI were aligned today. We came here to just play the game. We have given a proper reply.
When asked about breaching the spirit of sportsmanship, he replied: “Few things are ahead of sportsman spirit. We stand with all victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and dedicate this victory to the Armed Forces who took part in Operation Sindoor.”
PCB Weighs Legal Options
The ICC Code clause 3.1.2 specifies that complaints can be lodged by national boards or the ICC’s Chief Executive Officer. PCB has been consulting with its lawyers and may file the complaint before the seven-day deadline, sources added.
Precedents Of Political Breaches
There is historical precedent for ICC action on political messaging. England’s Moeen Ali and Australia’s Usman Khawaja were sanctioned for wearing political logos in support of Gaza in 2014 and 2023 respectively. Similarly, India’s MS Dhoni was barred from using wicketkeeping gloves with the Indian Army insignia during the 2019 World Cup. Though Suryakumar did not display any logo, PCB sources insist his statements could still fall under a code breach.
