DUBAI; The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday reprimanded Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf and opener Sahibzada Farhan for inappropriate gestures made during the Asia Cup Super Four match against India, according to ESPNcricinfo.
Match referee Richie Richardson imposed a fine of 30 percent of Haris Rauf’s match fee after he was seen responding to heckling from Indian fans by signalling “6-0” with his hands and making gestures resembling aircraft being shot down — an apparent reference to the military conflict between India and Pakistan earlier this year. Meanwhile, Sahibzada Farhan, who celebrated his half-century by mimicking a gunshot, was let off with an official warning.
This incident followed disciplinary action against Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav, who was fined 30 percent of his match fee for remarks referencing the same military clash after India’s group-stage victory over Pakistan on September 14. Despite his not-guilty plea, Yadav’s appeal was rejected by the match referee, though India has formally contested the decision.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had lodged a complaint against Yadav’s post-match remarks, in which he dedicated the win to the victims of the Pahalgam attack in April — an incident that killed at least 24 people and triggered brief military escalation between the two nations. PCB demanded that the ICC impose a Level 4 sanction, reserved for the gravest breaches of the code of conduct, citing past cases where players were penalised for political messaging.
On the cricketing front, Pakistan secured their place in the Asia Cup 2025 final by defeating Bangladesh by 11 runs in a tense Super Four match in Dubai on Thursday. After being restricted to 135-8, Pakistan’s bowlers staged a strong comeback, setting up a blockbuster final against arch-rivals India — the first-ever title clash between the two sides in the 17 editions of the Asia Cup.
