Dubai [UAE], September 24 () — As Pakistan gears up for a crucial Asia Cup Super Four clash against Bangladesh, star fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi addressed the controversial gestures from teammates Haris Rauf and opener Sahibzada Farhan during their recent match against India. Afridi kept it simple: “Our job is to play cricket, and everyone’s job is to play cricket.”
The drama unfolded in Pakistan’s innings when Farhan reached his half-century and celebrated by mimicking a gun with his bat, a move that caught plenty of attention. Later, in the second innings, Rauf fired back at jeering Indian fans from the boundary rope. He raised his fingers to flash “0-6,” a cheeky nod to Pakistan’s debunked claims of shooting down six Indian fighter jets after India’s Operation Sindoor in May.
Afridi brushed it off during a media chat, stressing focus over distractions. “Look, our job is to play cricket. Honestly, whatever we think, everyone has their own respect. Everyone thinks the way they think. But our job is to play cricket. And we have come to win the series. We have come to win the Asia Cup. And we are doing our best,” he said.
Rauf’s gesture quickly lit up social media, with videos going viral and sparking backlash from Indian fans. They trolled the 31-year-old bowler relentlessly, especially as the crowd chanted Virat Kohli’s name. That shout-out recalled Kohli’s epic two sixes off Rauf in a nail-biting 160-run chase during the 2022 T20 World Cup in Melbourne—one of those hits earned the ICC’s “Shot of the Century” label.
Pakistan now turns its attention to Bangladesh in their final Super Four game on Thursday at the ongoing Asia Cup. A strong showing could boost their shot at the final. They head in confident after a thrilling five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka on Tuesday at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. ()
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