The ICC fined veteran Pakistani speedster Haris Rauf 30% of his match earnings for using “abusive language and aggressive gestures” in the Super 4 Asia Cup match against India on September 21.
When the Indian hitters were hammering the Pakistani bowlers, Haris Rauf got into a verbal spat with Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill during the intense match. In response, the right-arm pacer made a gesture that might have been a mockery of India’s military actions following the Pahalgam attack: a plane crash.
After hitting fifty, opening batsman Sahibzada Farhan also celebrated in a distinctive way. He pretended to be firing at the sky while holding his bat like a gun. Farhan received a warning but avoided a financial penalty.
Indian fans jeered Haris Rauf with ‘Kohli, Kohli’ chants as he fielded on the boundary line.
Richie Richardson, the match referee, presided over the hearing, which was held at the Pakistan team hotel. Despite submitting their comments in writing, both players were in person, and team manager Naveed Akram Cheema accompanied them.
“On Friday afternoon, Richie Richardson, the match referee, finished his hearing at the team hotel. According to a tournament source who spoke to Hindustan Times on condition of anonymity, Haris Rauf was fined 30% of his match fees for his violent attitude, while Farhan was given a warning. Rauf and Farhan had already entered a not guilty plea at their ICC hearing.
The two were accused of making offensive gestures in a formal complaint submitted by the BCCI on Wednesday. When India refused to shake hands with the players after defeating them in the Asia Cup group stage match, the rivalry between the two teams grew more intense.
According to reports, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav has been warned to abstain from making any remarks that can be interpreted as political. This followed a complaint from Pakistan regarding his statements honouring the Indian Armed Forces and the Pahalgam terror victims during the group-stage battle victory. Similar to Rauf and Farhan, Suryakumar had first refuted the accusation.
It is known that Richardson denied Suryakumar’s not-guilty plea and fined him 30% of his match fee. India has filed an appeal against the decision.
Now, on Sunday, September 28, the bitter rivals will square off in the 2025 Asia Cup finals at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
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