By Asif Naveed
Web Desk; Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf has been suspended for Pakistan’s first two One-Day Internationals against South Africa on November 4 and 6 after the International Cricket Council (ICC) handed down disciplinary sanctions against several Indian and Pakistani players for breaching the Code of Conduct during matches played in the Asia Cup.
According to ESPNcricinfo, Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan were reprimanded by the ICC in September for inappropriate gestures during the Asia Cup Super Four match against India. Rauf was seen responding to taunts from Indian fans by signalling “6-0” with his hands and making gestures referencing aircraft being shot down — apparently alluding to military tensions between the two countries in May this year. Farhan, meanwhile, celebrated his half-century by mimicking a gunshot gesture.
In a press release issued on Tuesday, the ICC confirmed the outcomes of several Code of Conduct proceedings related to matches between India and Pakistan on September 14, 21, and 28. The hearings were conducted by members of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees.
During the September 14 clash, India’s Suryakumar Yadav was found guilty of violating Article 2.21 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which deals with behaviour that brings the game into disrepute. He was fined 30 percent of his match fee and given two demerit points. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had earlier lodged an official complaint against Yadav for dedicating India’s victory to “the families of victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.”
Sahibzada Farhan was found guilty of the same charge, receiving an official warning and one demerit point. Haris Rauf was also found guilty of the same offence, fined 30 percent of his match fee, and given two demerit points. These hearings were overseen by Match Referee Richie Richardson.
In the September 21 match, India’s Arshdeep Singh was accused of making an obscene gesture but was found not guilty after an ICC review led by Match Referee Andy Pycroft.
During the Asia Cup final on September 28, India’s Jasprit Bumrah accepted the charge under Article 2.21 and received an official warning, resulting in one demerit point. As he accepted the sanction, no formal hearing was held.
Following another review led by Richie Richardson, Haris Rauf was once again found guilty of misconduct and penalised with a 30 percent match fee deduction along with two additional demerit points. This raised his total to four demerit points within 24 months — triggering an automatic two-match suspension under ICC rules.
As a result, Haris will miss Pakistan’s ODIs against South Africa on November 4 and 6, 2025. The ICC stated that all disciplinary decisions were made in accordance with established procedures and after full hearings.
