Heated Clash Spills Off The Field
The political undertones of last Sunday’s India–Pakistan Asia Cup clash in Dubai reached the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday, with disciplinary hearings held for Pakistan’s Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan.
According to sources, both players appeared before a three-member ICC committee comprising match referee Richie Richardson, senior event operations manager Sally Higgins and tournament director Andrew Russell. They were supported by Pakistan team manager Naveed Cheema.Rauf Faces 50% Fine For Gestures
Fast bowler Haris Rauf admitted to misconduct after throwing the ball aggressively at India’s Sanju Samson and giving him a send-off laced with vitriol. Rauf also made a hand signal of “6-0”, interpreted as a reference to Pakistan’s claim of downing Indian aircraft in the May border conflict. He accepted the act was avoidable and is expected to be charged with a Level II offence, carrying a penalty of 50% of his match fee.
Farhan’s Defence Accepted
Opener Sahibzada Farhan, meanwhile, escaped sanction. He was questioned about his gunshot-style celebration with the bat, which some viewed as politically charged.
Farhan explained that the gesture is a traditional celebration in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, his home region in northwest Pakistan.
The panel accepted his clarification, ruling the celebration non-political.
Indian Skipper Also Pulled Up
Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav faced the committee a day earlier, on Thursday, for his political remarks after the September 14 India–Pakistan match. He is likely to receive a 15% fine of his match fee.
Tensions Overshadow The Game
The ICC hearings follow a series of flashpoints surrounding the tournament. After both high-voltage matches, Indian players refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts — breaking the long-standing post-match tradition in international cricket.
Both the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) lodged complaints with the ICC over politically motivated gestures and statements, underlining the tense backdrop of recent military hostilities between the two nations.
