New Delhi: Following disciplinary hearings during the ongoing Asia Cup 2025, ICC match referee Richie Richardson has recommended fines of 30 per cent of match fees for India’s Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan’s Haris Rauf due to their on-field behaviour and conduct in India vs Pakistan encounters.

Disciplinary proceedings

The International Cricket Council (ICC) conducted hearings on Thursday and Friday, with match referees and team managers from both sides in attendance. Both Yadav and Rauf pleaded not guilty, while Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan, who celebrated a half-century last week with an open-air gunshot gesture, received only a warning and no financial penalty.

The disciplinary review comes amid rising tension in the multi-nation tournament. The controversy began when the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) alleged that match referee Andy Pycroft violated the code of conduct during the toss. After multiple communications, the ICC cleared Pycroft, giving him a clean chit.

Reasons for the fines

Haris Rauf’s on-field antics, including mocking gestures aimed at Indian fans, were deemed aggressive and unacceptable, resulting in the 30 per cent fine. Suryakumar Yadav, on the other hand, was fined for expressing solidarity with Pahalgam terror victims and the Indian Army following an encounter between the two teams on September 14.

Sahibzada Farhan, despite his theatrical celebration, escaped financial penalty, reflecting ICC’s differentiation between celebratory gestures and actions that violate conduct codes.

Potential appeals

Both the BCCI and PCB are expected to appeal the match referee’s recommendations. Emails exchanged during the investigation highlighted complaints from both boards regarding player behaviour and post-match comments. The ICC has yet to issue a final statement confirming the fines.

Upcoming Asia Cup final

With tensions high, the two teams are set to face off in the Asia Cup final on Sunday. The clash promises to be a tense and closely watched contest, given the disciplinary controversies and on-field rivalries in the preceding matches.