New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Saurabh Bharadwaj on Monday launched a sharp attack on India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav after the cricketer dedicated India’s Asia Cup win against Pakistan to the victims of the recent Pahalgam terror attack. The AAP leader dismissed the gesture as “farzi” (fake) and challenged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) to back the words with financial aid to the victims’ families.

Bhardwaj questions Yadav’s dedication

Speaking at a press conference, Bharadwaj criticised Yadav’s statement and questioned its sincerity. “He (Suryakumar) said he dedicated this win to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack so easily. You are very understanding,” Bharadwaj remarked sarcastically.

The AAP leader escalated his criticism with a pointed challenge: “Agar tumhari aukaat hai, aur tumhari BCCI ki aukaat hai, aur tumhari ICC ki aukaat hai, toh tumhe dusri chunauti bhi dete hai. Jitna paisa tumne in broadcasting rights se kamaya hai, advertisers se kamaya hai, aur iss pure dhande mein aapne kamaya hai, de do un 26 vidhwahon ko. Hum bhi maan jayenge tumne dedicate kiya hai (If you have the courage, and if the BCCI and ICC have the courage, then here’s another challenge. Give all the money you earned from broadcasting rights, advertisers, and this entire business to the 26 widows. Only then will we believe you truly dedicated it).”

Bharadwaj further said the Indian captain and cricket authorities lacked the courage to take meaningful action, accusing them of making symbolic statements without substance.

Silence from cricket authorities

Neither Suryakumar Yadav nor the BCCI or ICC issued an immediate response to the AAP leader’s remarks. The controversy comes amid heightened scrutiny following India’s refusal to shake hands with Pakistan players during the match.

India skips handshake with Pakistan

India defeated Pakistan by seven wickets in the Asia Cup match held on Sunday, a fixture played despite boycott calls after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, mostly tourists.

At the toss, both captains—Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan’s Salman Ali Agha—avoided the customary handshake. After the match, Indian players walked directly to the dressing room while Pakistani players waited, leading to a visible breach of protocol.

Explaining the gesture, Yadav had dedicated the victory to “our armed forces who took part in Operation Sindoor” and emphasised that the team “stands with the families of the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.”

Political reactions and government’s stand

The match went ahead despite opposition parties demanding that India boycott fixtures against Pakistan in light of the terror attack. The central government, however, did not object to India’s participation, maintaining that sport and national security should not be conflated.

Union Minister Manohar Lal defended the decision, saying: “Both issues are different. As far as the India vs Pakistan match, Operation Sindoor, and other things are concerned, nobody will say that the match will happen just by comparing them. But as far as the game is concerned, the game has sentiment, and players also worked hard for it, so it is not fair to oppose it. That’s why whatever has been decided has been decided thoughtfully.”

Conclusion

The war of words between political leaders and cricket authorities reflects the sensitive overlap of sport, security, and national sentiment in India-Pakistan contests. While Suryakumar Yadav’s dedication was meant as a tribute, it has now become a flashpoint for political sparring, drawing attention to how cricket often becomes a stage for larger national debates.