‘Shows How Educated They Are..’ Madan Lal slams back at Mohammad Yousuf’s comment on Suryakumar Yadav
Former India cricketer and 1983 World Cup-winning captain Madan Lal has strongly criticised Mohammad Yousuf after the former Pakistan batter sparked controversy with a derogatory remark aimed at India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav. The comment came in the aftermath of India’s convincing 7-wicket win over Pakistan at the Asia Cup clash in Dubai – a match already shadowed by political tensions following the tragic Pahalgam terror attack, where 26 Indian tourists were killed by Pakistan-backed militants.
Despite calls for a boycott, the high-stakes India-Pakistan fixture went ahead as scheduled. However, the match was not without post-game drama. After the win, Team India chose not to engage in the customary handshake with Pakistani players, reportedly in silent protest. In response, Pakistan skipped the post-match presentation. This fueled further tensions and opened the door for controversial statements.
Among them was a particularly offensive one from Mohammad Yousuf, who, during a panel discussion on Samaa TV, repeatedly referred to Suryakumar Yadav using a derogatory twist of his name – calling him “Suarkumar.” Yousuf also accused India of manipulating umpiring decisions, claiming they “use umpires as they wish.”
“This Is Just for Publicity”: Madan Lal Hits Back
Madan Lal didn’t hold back in his response. Speaking to ANI, the 74-year-old labelled Yousuf’s remarks as not just disrespectful, but also a clear attempt to grab attention in the media.
“Have you seen how some former Pakistani cricketers speak? They are frustrated. They’ve started abusing players from other teams, which says a lot about their education and mindset,” said Madan. “Abuse is never okay. We’re giving them too much publicity. And that’s exactly what they want. The more they bad-mouth India, the more views they get on YouTube. That’s their model – be bitter about India and gain attention.”
“Use of Technology Makes These Complaints Baseless”
Yousuf’s accusation that India manipulated umpiring decisions didn’t sit well with Madan Lal either. He reminded everyone that modern cricket has enough checks and balances – namely the DRS system (Decision Review System) to ensure fairness.
“Today, it’s very easy for umpires to correct themselves. If there’s doubt, there’s the third umpire. Decisions get reversed if they’re wrong. That’s what happened in the India-Pakistan game too. There’s no room for such complaints when you’ve got technology supporting you,” he explained.
Madan also pointed out that the issue isn’t just with the system – it’s also about how wisely teams use their reviews.
“You also need to understand when to take a review and when not to. That’s part of the game,” he added.
PCB’s Protest and Threat to Withdraw
The controversy didn’t end with the handshake snub. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) filed an official complaint against match referee Andy Pycroft, accusing him of violating the ICC Code of Conduct and breaching the MCC’s spirit of cricket laws. Pakistan has even threatened to pull out of the Asia Cup if the ruling doesn’t go their way.
But for Madan Lal, such threats mean very little in the bigger picture of international cricket.
“If Pakistan Don’t Play, the World Will Move On”
“If they choose not to play, it won’t make any difference,” Madan said bluntly. “Cricket will continue. Someone else will take their place in the semifinals. The world won’t stop.”
He stressed that not participating would only harm Pakistan cricket, not anyone else.
“If you don’t play, your cricket will only decline. Winning games builds confidence, improves your cricket culture, and makes your fans happy. Right now, your team is losing and getting abused back home. Instead of making excuses, focus on improving your game. That’s what matters to your people.”