The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has filed a formal complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) against two Pakistan players, Sahibzada Farhan and Haris Rauf, over their behavior during a heated Asia Cup Super Four match on September 21. The Indian team wants the ICC and match referee Andy Pycroft to take strong action, saying the players crossed the line of fair play.
Things got controversial early on when Pakistan’s opener Sahibzada Farhan reached his half-century. He celebrated by pointing his bat like a gun, a gesture that many called insensitive and provocative, especially amid ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan.
Fast bowler Haris Rauf faced even more backlash later in the game. After getting Sanju Samson out, he showed clear aggression toward the Indian batter. Then, while standing near the boundary, Rauf responded to taunts from Indian fans by holding up his fingers to signal “0-6.” Fans saw this as a jab at Pakistan’s false claims of shooting down six Indian fighter jets during a border clash after India’s Operation Sindoor in May.
Videos of Rauf’s gesture quickly went viral on social media, sparking outrage from Indian supporters. They trolled him hard, chanting Virat Kohli’s name to remind everyone of Kohli’s epic two sixes off Rauf during India’s tense 160-run chase in the T20 World Cup 2022 at Melbourne. One of those shots even earned ICC’s “Shot of the Century” title.
On the flip side, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has fired back with two complaints of its own against Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav. The PCB called his post-match comments political. After India’s win on September 14, Yadav dedicated the victory to the families affected by the Pahalgam terror attack and praised the bravery of India’s armed forces. “Perfect occasion, taking the time out, we stand by the families of the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. We express our solidarity. Want to dedicate the win to all our armed forces who showed a lot of bravery. Hope they continue to inspire us all, and we give them more reasons on the ground whenever we get an opportunity to make them smile,” he said.
This cricket controversy highlights the intense India-Pakistan rivalry, blending on-field drama with off-field sensitivities in the Asia Cup.
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