SKY told to refrain from making political statements

Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav was on Thursday told to refrain from making any comments that could be construed as political in nature by the ICC match referee Richie Richardson during an official hearing of the global body on a complaint filed by Pakistan Cricket Board. The hearing against Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan and Haris Rauf, on a complaint filed by the BCCI, will be held on Friday as the two are playing in their Asia Cup match against Sri Lanka on Thursday. It is understood that the PCB had filed the complaint within the stipulated seven-day period after the September 14 game between India and Pakistan in which Suryakumar had refused to shake hands and then dedicated the victory to the Indian armed forces for carrying out Operation Sindoor in May. He had also expressed solidarity with the victims of Pahalgam terror attack. “Surya attended the ICC hearing today. He was accompanied by BCCI’s COO and Cricket Operations Manager. Richardson explained to him that he shouldn’t be making any comments that could be seen as political in nature. The sanction can’t be ascertained. Since it falls under Level 1, it could either be a warning or a financial penalty of 15 percent deductions in match fees,” a tournament source privy to the details said. Earlier, India had filed an official complaint with the ICC against Pakistan cricketers Rauf and Farhan for their provocative gestures during the two sides’ Asia Cup Super 4 game here last Sunday. @@