The Pakistan Cricket Board has filed an official complaint with the International Cricket Council against Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav for his post-match comments following India’s Asia Cup Group A match against Pakistan on September 14. The PCB alleges that Surya made political statements by expressing solidarity with victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and dedicating India’s victory to the Indian Armed Forces involved in Operation Sindoor.
As per protocol, ICC match referee Richie Richardson has requested an explanation from Suryakumar Yadav regarding his statements made during the post-match presentation and press conference.During the post-match ceremony, Suryakumar had said, “Perfect occasion, taking the time out, we stand by the families of the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. We express our solidarity… Want to dedicate the win to all our armed forces who showed a lot of bravery.”“Our government and BCCI, we were aligned today… We came here to just play the game,” he had said further in the press conference.Is Suryakumar Yadav in breach of ICC rules?ICC’s rule regarding ‘personal messages’ reads: “Players and team officials shall not be permitted to wear, display or otherwise convey personal messages on their clothing, equipment or otherwise, irrespective of whether such messages are affixed to clothing, equipment or otherwise and whether such messages are displayed or conveyed through the use of the specific clothingor other items (e.g. an arm band) or by the use of words, symbol, graphic message, images or otherwise (“Personal Messages”), unless approved in advance by both the player or team official’s Board and the ICC Cricket Operations Department. Approval shall not be granted for messages which relate to political, religious or racial activities or causes.“The ICC shall have the final say in determining whether any such message is approved. For the avoidance of doubt, where a message is approved by the player or team official’s Board but subsequently disapproved by the ICC’s Cricket Operations Department, the player or team official shall not be permitted to wear, display or otherwise convey such message in International Matches.”ICC’s rulebook explains further with a guidance note: “In determining whether a message is for a “political, religious or racial cause”, the starting point is that the ICC and its Members acknowledge and agree that cricket should be used as a tool to bring people and communities around the world together and not as a platform to draw attention to potentially divisive political issues, rhetoric or agendas. Each case must be considered on its own facts and the ICC will take into account all relevant circumstances, including (as it sees fit):(a) the views of any other relevant team or individual; (b) the likely sentiment and response in the media to the message in all relevant countries; (c) whether the message is a ‘one-off’ or whether it is to be displayed for a longer period; (d) the purpose and impact of conveying the message. By way of example only, and without limitation, where the purpose of a message appears to be commemorative in nature (e.g. the use of a black armband or a poppy) or to serve a charitable purpose (e.g. to generate funds or awareness for a non-political charitable cause), it is more likely to be permitted; where a message appears to indicate support for a particular government, political party or individual, it is more likely to be prohibited.Can Suryakumar Yadav be charged by the ICC?As per the Disciplinary Process mentioned in the ICC document, Article 1.3 says “All Reports must be lodged with the ICC’s Senior Cricket Operations Manager within seven (7) days of conclusion of the relevant International Match.”As of right now, the timing of PCB’s complaint filing remains unclear, so whether Suryakumar Yadav will be found guilty could hinge on this as well.If Suryakumar Yadav contests the charges, a formal hearing will be conducted with Richardson, Surya, and a PCB representative present.
