India Files Complaint with ICC Over Pakistani Players’ Provocative Gestures in Asia Cup Clash

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has lodged an official complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) against Pakistani cricketers Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan, alleging unsporting conduct during the Asia Cup 2025 Super Four encounter in Dubai. The complaint, submitted on Wednesday, has been formally acknowledged by the ICC.

According to reports, the BCCI has raised concerns over Sahibzada Farhan’s “gun celebration” after reaching his half-century in the September 21 India–Pakistan match, an act that drew widespread criticism.

In the same fixture, Haris Rauf allegedly made gestures mimicking the downing of a plane, apparently in response to chants of “Kohli, Kohli” from Indian fans—an allusion to Virat Kohli’s memorable sixes off Rauf during the 2022 T20 World Cup in Melbourne. Rauf was also seen engaging in heated exchanges with Indian openers Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill, who powered India’s successful chase of 172 runs.

Should Rauf and Farhan contest the charges in writing, the ICC is expected to conduct a formal hearing before Elite Panel Match Referee Richie Richardson. If the players fail to justify their actions, they could face disciplinary sanctions under the ICC’s Code of Conduct.

Farhan, however, appeared unapologetic about his celebration, calling it spontaneous. “That celebration was just a spur of the moment. I rarely celebrate when I reach fifty,” he told reporters after the match. “But when I got there, the idea suddenly came to me, and I did it without thinking about how people might interpret it. We should play aggressive cricket against any team, not just India, the way we played today.”