In the high-stakes clash between Pakistan and India at the Asia Cup Super Fours in Dubai, Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan lit up the Dubai International Cricket Stadium with a quickfire fifty. But his celebration stole the spotlight—and not in a good way. After smashing 58 runs off just 34 balls, Farhan mimicked firing a gun with his bat, a move that quickly sparked outrage and went viral on social media.
Fans and critics slammed the gesture as insensitive, especially amid the tense India-Pakistan rivalry in cricket. India-Pakistan matches always draw intense scrutiny, where even small actions can ignite debates. This one hit a nerve, drawing parallels to real-world tragedies like the Pahalgam terror attack, where Pakistan-backed militants killed innocent tourists. India hit back with Operation Sindoor, targeting terror camps and escalating tensions between the two nations.
That history fuels calls for India to boycott such games. The Indian government halted bilateral cricket series with Pakistan years ago, limiting meetings to neutral events like the ICC or ACC tournaments. Just last time these teams met in the Asia Cup in Dubai, Indian players skipped post-match handshakes, adding to the bad blood. Some see Farhan’s celebration as a jab at that snub.
Farhan isn’t new to this flair—he’s pulled off the same gunfire move before in the Pakistan Super League. But against India, it rubbed many the wrong way, linking it to the deaths of Indian soldiers and civilians in terror attacks. One angry fan, Michael Scott (@Sidyously on social media), fumed: “This isn’t just a celebration. It’s a straight-up mockery of the lives lost by Indian soldiers and citizens. ICC needs to take serious action against Sahibzada Farhan for this disgrace.”
Not everyone agrees. Some Pakistan supporters frame it as a nod to their armed forces. For now, the ICC hasn’t commented, but the debate rages on.
On the field, Farhan’s knock anchored Pakistan’s innings. He charged out aggressively, using smart footwork to create space and punish bowlers. He tore into Jasprit Bumrah early, who leaked 34 runs in his first three overs during the Powerplay. Teaming up with Saim Ayub, Farhan built a solid 72-run second-wicket stand, pushing Pakistan to 91/1 after 10 overs and eyeing a big total.
Things slowed when India’s Shivam Dube entered the attack, though. Faheem Ashraf provided a late boost with an unbeaten 20 off eight balls, helping Pakistan reach 171/5 in their 20 overs. Farhan’s fiery batting set the tone, but the controversy overshadowed his heroics in this heated T20 Asia Cup showdown.
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