The International Cricket Council (ICC) has fined both Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistani fast bowler Haris Rauf 30% of their match fees for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during the India-Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 match. Pakistani batter Sahibzada Farhan, however, was left with a warning.
The sanctions were imposed by ICC match referee Richie Richardson following incidents that were caught on camera during the high-voltage Pakistan-India match earlier this month. Surya Kumar Yadav was fined after being found guilty of making comments alluding to Pakistan-India military conflict in May 2025 in a post-match speech following a group stage clash on September 14.
Incidents that triggered sanctions
The action was taken following the former complaint filed by the Pakistan Cricket Board. However, Harish Rao, the Pakistani fast bowler, was also penalised for a gesture during the Super 4 match in September 2025.
Responding to heckling from Indian fans, he had signalled 6-0 with his hand and mimicked the downing of an aircraft. Resultantly, the Board of Control for Cricket in India had also complained about the pacer. Meanwhile, Farhan escaped a fine after celebrating his half-century by making a gunshot.
The intense military escalations and the almost dead diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan following the Palgam attack in April this year have now taken over the game of cricket as well between the two nations. Both teams are now set to meet for the third time in the tournament during the Asia Cup final in Dubai on Sunday after more than 40 years.
India vs Pakistan: Asia Cup final preview
Pakistan will be gunning for revenge, but an unbeaten India look firm favourites to retain the Asia Cup title when the arch-rivals clash in a potentially testy final in Dubai on Sunday. The Indian juggernaut has crushed every opposition on its path before swaggering into the final of the eight-team tournament looking every inch the reigning 20-over world champions.
Pakistan were swatted aside twice, first in the group stage and then in Super Fours, by an India team containing the world’s top-ranked batter and bowler in the T20 format in opener Abhishek Sharma and spinner Varun Chakravarthy.
The BCCI filed a complaint with the ICC against Pakistan’s Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan for their aggressive gestures during the Super 4s match. The PCB, in turn, protested against India captain Suryakumar Yadav. pic.twitter.com/6WwEiwoBuW
— Murtaza Ali Shah (@MurtazaViews) September 25, 2025
Read more: Military tensions to cricket: India-Pakistan set for historic Asia Cup final after 40 years
Six-hitting machine Abhishek is also the tournament’s leading scorer with 309 runs from six innings, often setting the tone of India’s batting in the first six powerplay overs. In a low-scoring tournament where only Pathum Nissanka of Sri Lanka managed a century, Abhishek’s red-hot form at the top meant skipper Suryakumar Yadav’s struggle with the bat has not really been felt.
Wily seamer Jasprit Bumrah has helped India control the powerplay overs with the ball, but left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav has been their wrecker-in-chief, leading the bowlers’ chart with 13 wickets. Fellow spinners Axar Patel and Chakravarthy have also kept it tight in the middle overs, and the slew of all-rounders at his disposal has left Suryakumar practically spoilt for bowling choices.
Sparks flew and tempers frayed both times India and Pakistan met in what is their first tournament since a military conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours in May. India survived a scare in Friday’s dead rubber when they edged out Sri Lanka via Super Over, which should shake off any complacency that might have crept into their campaign.
With Additional Input from GVS South Asia Desk