Pakistani Cricketer Rauf Stirs Controversy with Gesture Towards Indian Fans in Asia Cup Clash
Gestures from Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan turned the Asia Cup 2025 clash into more than just cricket, fuelling India, Pakistan tensions both on and off the field.Image courtesy: Screen grabs from X.com
Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf made headlines during the Asia Cup Super Fours match in Dubai on September 21, 2025, not only for his bowling but also for a controversial gesture aimed at Indian fans.
While fielding near the boundary in the second innings, Rauf responded to loud jeers from Indian supporters by raising his fingers to signal “6-0.”
The move was widely interpreted as a taunt, alluding to Pakistan’s unverified claims of downing six Indian fighter jets earlier this year following Operation Sindoor.
Videos of the incident quickly spread online, sparking anger among Indian fans who slammed the pacer for politicising the sport.
Why was the stadium atmosphere already charged?
The atmosphere was already charged, with Indian supporters chanting “Virat Kohli” in a pointed reminder of the 2022 T20 World Cup at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where Kohli’s breathtaking strokes against Rauf secured India a dramatic win.
Rauf’s aggression was not limited to the stands. During the match, he confronted India’s opener Abhishek Sharma after Shubman Gill struck him for a boundary at the end of the fifth over.
The heated face-off required umpire Gazi Sohel’s intervention to prevent further escalation.
How did Operation Sindoor impact the cricket clash?
Adding fuel to the fire, Pakistan batter Sahibzada Farhan invited criticism with his unusual celebration. After reaching his half-century, Farhan raised his bat like a gun, a gesture Indian fans deemed insensitive and provocative.
The controversies came against the backdrop of mounting tensions between India and Pakistan at the tournament.
Earlier in the Asia Cup, Indian players had refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts, a decision linked to the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, where 26 tourists were killed by Pakistan-backed militants.
The gesture was repeated on September 21 as well, as players once again refrained from post-match courtesies.
What was the cricket match outcome?
On the cricketing front, Pakistan put up a competitive 171/5, their highest first-innings total against India in T20 Internationals. However, the Indian batting order proved too strong.
Abhishek Sharma’s blistering 74, supported by Shubman Gill’s fluent 47, powered a 105-run opening partnership. The stand laid the foundation for India’s comfortable six-wicket win, reinforcing their dominance in the regional contest.
The Asia Cup clash thus ended in India’s favor, but the off-field controversies surrounding Rauf and Farhan’s gestures ensured that the match would be remembered as much for its tensions as for the cricket on display.
