Haris Rauf, Sahibzada Farhan to be Banned? BCCI Files Official Complaint to ICC
BCCI has lodged a complaint with the ICC against Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan for provocative gestures during the Asia Cup 2025 India-Pakistan clash. PCB counters with protest against India captain Suryakumar Yadav.
The high-voltage India-Pakistan Super Four clash in the Asia Cup 2025 has escalated into controversy, with both cricket boards filing complaints to the International Cricket Council (ICC) over alleged misconduct by players.
According to reports, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has lodged a formal protest against Pakistan’s Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan for unsportsmanlike behavior during the September 21 match.
The complaint accuses Rauf of making provocative gestures targeting India’s military after fans chanted Virat Kohli’s name, along with using abusive language toward Indian openers Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma.
Farhan is facing scrutiny for a celebration where he mimicked firing a machine gun with his bat after reaching a milestone. The act drew sharp criticism online.
Farhan, however, dismissed the backlash, saying it was spontaneous. “It suddenly came to my mind that let’s do a celebration today. I don’t care how people take it,” he told reporters.
If the players deny the allegations, the ICC is expected to conduct a hearing, with Match Referee Richie Richardson likely overseeing proceedings. Penalties could follow if their explanations are deemed unsatisfactory.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has countered with its own complaint against India captain Suryakumar Yadav for his post-match remarks after the September 14 win.
Suryakumar had dedicated the victory to victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and praised the Indian Armed Forces for Operation Sindoor. The PCB alleges his comments were political, though ICC rules may prevent the case from moving forward if filed beyond the seven-day deadline.
