A new controversy has erupted ahead of the India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 final, after former Indian cricketer Atul Wassan claimed that captain Suryakumar Yadav was “obliged” to dedicate India’s group-stage victory to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack — a remark that sparked outrage, an ICC fine, and a political storm.
ICC Fines Suryakumar Over Post-Match Remark
Following India’s group-stage win over Pakistan earlier this month, Suryakumar dedicated the victory to the victims of the Pahalgam attack. However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) lodged an official complaint with the ICC, alleging that the statement breached the governing body’s Code of Conduct, which prohibits political messaging.
The ICC rejected Suryakumar’s not-guilty plea and fined him 30% of his match fee. The BCCI has since appealed the decision. The PCB even urged the ICC to impose a Level 4 sanction — the most severe penalty — citing previous instances where political or humanitarian messages were disallowed, such as Usman Khawaja’s “Freedom is a human right” protest.
Atul Wassan: “It Was Optics, Not Patriotism”
Speaking to NDTV ahead of the final, Atul Wassan argued that Suryakumar’s statement was less about personal conviction and more about public expectation and optics.
“If I don’t mention Pahalgam, that doesn’t make me less of a patriot. I am against these optics and tokenism. If he hadn’t said it, he would still be a patriot,” Wassan said.
He compared Suryakumar’s comment to the on-field gestures of Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan during the September 21 clash, calling all such acts “expected performances” under public and political pressure.
“He was obliged to say it, just like they were obliged to do that. People wanted something that acted like a balm, and he delivered that,” Wassan added.
Political Undercurrents Shadow the Final
The row adds another layer of tension to an already charged India vs Pakistan rivalry. With both nations’ cricket boards, fanbases, and media locked in heated debates, the focus has once again shifted from the field to the politics surrounding it.
Yet, as the teams prepare to meet in the Asia Cup 2025 final in Dubai, one thing is certain — the controversy will fuel an already fiery encounter, even before a ball is bowled.
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