The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has lodged a written complaint with the ICC over the gestures made by “Sahibzada Farhan” and “Haris Rauf” during the match against India.
According to the BCCI, the actions of “Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan” and “fast bowler Haris Rauf” during last Sunday’s game in Dubai were unacceptable. The Indian board raised its objections in writing to the ICC.
Citing reliable sources, ESPNcricinfo reported that on Wednesday the BCCI officially sent its complaint via email.
If “Farhan” and “Rauf” deny the allegations, the matter could proceed to a hearing. That particular match was overseen by match referee “Andy Pycroft,” but any hearing may take place before another tournament referee, “Richie Richardson.”
In the Asia Cup Super Four clash, after scoring his fifty, “Farhan” held his bat like a gun and mimicked firing shots — widely interpreted as a reference to the India–Pakistan wars.
“Rauf” allegedly made gestures while fielding near the boundary, pointing toward a section of the crowd to mimic an aircraft being suddenly shot down. This was seen as a reference to Pakistan’s claims of downing an Indian fighter jet after the Pahalgam terror attack.
He also reportedly mimicked an aircraft flying while celebrating a wicket and showed the number six with his fingers, which many believe was a nod to Pakistan’s claim of destroying six Indian warplanes.
The gestures of “Farhan” and “Rauf” quickly went viral on social media, sparking widespread debate and criticism.
The tension between the two nations has already been high after Indian players refused to shake hands with Pakistani cricketers in both matches. This new complaint is expected to intensify the situation further.
Meanwhile, several Pakistani media outlets have claimed that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has also filed a complaint with the ICC against “India captain Suryakumar Yadav.” According to those reports, after the group-stage match, the Indian captain dedicated the victory to his country’s armed forces and expressed solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam attack and their families — something the PCB reportedly views as a “political” statement on the field. However, the authenticity of this complaint is yet to be confirmed.
On the pitch, just like in the group stage, Pakistan were no match for India in the Asia Cup’s Super Four stage.
