The "fun" between India and Pakistan looks like it will never end. When the two clash on the sports field, an issue will always arise; whether we like it or not. The latest installment comes in the form of a gesture.
Pakistan bowler, Haris Rauf, raised six fingers towards the spectators. To the uninitiated, this might not mean anything but, in reality, this referred to the number of planes that got shot down. As a result, a punishment would ensue.
There have been several posts on social media saying that Haris Rauf will be banned for three matches. That means he will not play the final. The reason is for his provocative gestures vs. India in the Asia Cup 2025 Super 4 match.
Rauf had made 'war references' when he used the, '6-0' gesture. He was referring to Pakistan’s unverified claim of shooting down six Indian jets during Operation Sindoor. India had launched Operation Sindoor in wake of the Pahalgam terror attack that took the lives of 26 tourists. Operation Sindoor destroyed many terror camps, eliminated several terrorists and destroyed a larger number of Pakistani military installations.
Haris Rauf had pleaded not guilty during the ICC hearing on Friday, 26 September. Rauf found himself at the centre of controversy during the India vs. Pakistan clash in the Super 4s as his gestures towards the Indian crowd was considered to be provocative in nature.
During the match on 21 September, in response to Indian fans chanting, "Kohli, Kohli" — a reminder of the two iconic sixes Virat Kohli struck against him at the MCG during the 2022 T20 World Cup. Haris first brushed off his ear, signalling indifference, before later gesturing provocatively, mimicking a fighter jet going down —a clip of which went viral online. The pacer then resorted to mocking gestures, imitating the act of bringing down a plane as a dig at India’s military operations.
His frustrations also spilled over on the field as he directed abusive words toward India’s young opening pair, Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma. The two batters, however, chose the perfect reply, letting their bats do the talking with confident stroke play.
Haris also repeated the gesture when celebrating Sanju Samson’s wicket during Pakistan’s unsuccessful defence of 171 runs. Haris and Sahibzada were slammed by fans and former Indian cricketers. Irfan Pathan did not hold back, slamming the two cricketers.
India’s Arshdeep Singh, who has struggled to secure a regular starting spot during the Asia Cup 2025, made headlines for a fiery on-field gesture after the Super 4 clash against Pakistan on Sunday, September 21.
Fans interpreted Arshdeep's action as a response to the Pakistan fast bowler; who had made a similar gesture aimed at the Indian team and supporters earlier in the match. The exchange highlighted the heated atmosphere between the two sides. Pakistan batter, Sahibzada Farhan, also added to the drama, pointing his bat like a gun after reaching a half-century earlier in the innings.
During the ICC hearing on Friday, Rauf said that the 6-0 gesture meant nothing and it wasn't directed towards India. The pacer even asked the ICC personnel what they assumed the gesture meant, to which they didn't have an answer.
Rauf said that there was no reference to India at all in terms of his gestures.
Earlier in the day, Sahibzada Farhan also appeared infront of the ICC personnel for his gun celebration and said that it wasn't political and referred to former India skippers, MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli having done the same in the past. Farhan used the celebration after scoring a fifty against India during the Super 4s clash.
On Thursday, India captain, Suryakumar Yadav, completed his own hearing after PCB lodged a complaint against him for his post-match comments after their group stage clash, dedicating India's win to the armed forces.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) raised objections to Yadav’s mention of Operation Sindoor, the Indian government’s military response to the Pahalgam attack in April, claiming his remarks had political connotations. Yadav faced match referee, Richie Richardson and pleaded not guilty. Following the hearing, the ICC has cautioned him against making similar statements in the future.
Haris Rauf has since been found guilty of breaching the ICC code of conduct during the Super 4 game against India in the Asia Cup on 21 September. Rauf was fined 30% of his match fee by ICC match referee, Richie Richardson.
It is understood that Pakistan batter, Sahibzada Farhan, wasn't fined and let off with a warning by Richardson on Friday.
However, it is important to state that the ICC is yet to issue an official release regarding the sanctions imposed on Rauf.
India captain, Suryakumar Yadav, was also fined 30% after being found guilty of breaching the ICC code of conduct for making comments that alluded to the military conflict after the group game against Pakistan on 14 September. India had appealed against the verdict.
The PCB had filed a complaint against Suryakumar, while the BCCI had done the same against Rauf and Farhan. All three players had pleaded not guilty to the charges, which necessitated hearings with Richardson.
PCB chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the current head of Asian Cricket Council (ACC), sprang into action after Haris Rauf's 30% of his match fee was docked for using "abusive language" during the Super 4s match against India at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, 21 September. According to a report in Samaa.TV, Naqvi has decided to pay the fine imposed on the pacer personally.
It appears that the Pakistani team was instructed from the top to use these signals during the match against India after what happened in the previous game, where Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav dedicated the victory to the victims of the Pahalgam attack and the armed forces. Naqvi, who is also the president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), even shared a video of Cristiano Ronaldo, where the footballer can be seen doing a plane takeoff celebration after a goal.
I'm sorry but the punishments are inadequate. A simple fine won't do anything. A match ban is more sufficient for these actions. Despite their denials, I believe the actions were political in nature. In times of heckling, athletes should ignore the comments and not to incite any action that can cause offensive or harmful acts of behaviour.