Just two days before the Asia Cup 2025 final, Pakistan’s preparations have been overshadowed by off-field drama. Fast bowler Haris Rauf and opener Sahibzada Farhan appeared before ICC match referee Ritchie Richardson in Dubai on Friday, facing questions over their on-field gestures during last week’s Super Four clash against India.
The hearing came after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) lodged an official complaint, alleging that the players’ celebrations breached the ICC’s code of conduct.
Farhan: “It’s Pashtun tradition”
Sources revealed that Farhan strongly rejected the claims that his celebration carried political intent. Instead, he stressed that it was cultural.
“In Pashtun traditions, this is how celebrations are done. It was not political, and it was certainly not aimed at India,” Farhan reportedly told the referee.
Rauf’s six-finger gesture questioned
Rauf, meanwhile, was grilled over the six-finger gesture he made during the same game. Asked directly about the meaning behind it, the fiery pacer pushed back.
“Tell me, what do you people think this means?” he reportedly responded when pressed by Richardson.
In his written submission, Rauf argued there was “no evidence” to prove the gesture was offensive or targeted. When the referee suggested it may have been “directed at something else,” Rauf countered:
“You tell me, what was I pointing at?”
When asked why he repeated the gesture, Rauf clarified it was simply an interaction with the fans in the stands. “It was for the fans and nothing else,” he insisted.
ICC takes complaint seriously
The ICC confirmed receipt of the BCCI’s complaint earlier this week, formally acknowledging the concerns via email. The hearing on Friday was the first step in reviewing the matter.
The incidents — Farhan’s animated half-century celebration and Rauf’s gestures while fielding — sparked lively debate on social media, with divided opinions among fans from both sides of the border.
Focus back on cricket?
While the disciplinary process remains ongoing, Pakistan will hope this storm doesn’t distract from their biggest challenge yet — the historic Asia Cup final against India on Sunday in Dubai.
For now, Rauf and Farhan have stood their ground, defending their actions as expressions of passion rather than provocation. Whether the ICC agrees remains to be seen.
