The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has lodged a formal complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) against Pakistan cricketers Sahibzada Farhan and Haris Rauf for their inappropriate on-field actions during the Asia Cup Super Four match on September 21.
According to BCCI sources, the complaint was also submitted to match referee Andy Pycroft, with the Indian team demanding strict action against both players for conduct that crossed the line of acceptable behaviour.
During Pakistan’s innings, opener Sahibzada Farhan celebrated his half-century by holding his bat like a gun, a gesture widely criticised as provocative. Later, pacer Haris Rauf drew further scrutiny. After dismissing Sanju Samson, Rauf responded to jeers from Indian fans near the boundary by lifting his fingers to indicate “0-6,” a reference to Pakistan’s unfounded claims about downing Indian fighter jets following India’s Operation Sindoor in May. The gesture quickly went viral on social media, sparking criticism from Indian fans.
The incident comes after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had previously lodged complaints with the ICC against Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav for his remarks following India’s September 14 win, which PCB claimed politicised the Pahalgam incident. Yadav had expressed solidarity with the families of the Pahalgam terror attack victims and dedicated the victory to India’s armed forces.