India and Pakistan’s cricket rivalry, already the most intense in the sport, has found another flashpoint. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has formally complained to match referee Andy Pycroft about the behavior of Pakistan players Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan during the Asia Cup Super Four clash on September 21. The Indian camp has gone a step further, attaching video evidence of what they called “provocative and indecent” gestures, demanding strict action from the officials.
The complaint focuses heavily on Rauf. Throughout the game in Dubai, the fast bowler repeatedly responded to “Kohli, Kohli” chants from the stands by spreading his arms like a fighter jet. When he dismissed Sanju Samson, he mimed “6-0,” a gesture tied to a propaganda claim that six Indian aircraft were shot down earlier this year during Operation Sindoor. It didn’t stop there.
🚨THE BCCI LODGES COMPLAINT🚨
— Richard Kettleborough (@RichKettle07) September 25, 2025
– The BCCI has lodged an official complaint against Haris Rauf & Sahibzada Farhan
– The BCCI demands strict actions from the match referee Andy Pycroft against both for provocative behaviour
– What's your take🤔 #INDvPAK pic.twitter.com/XkeDWtKA9R
At one stage, Rauf confronted Indian batters Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill mid-innings, sparking an angry reaction from the Indian bench. “Such on-field behaviour is against the spirit of the game,” an Indian official was quoted as saying. “We have complained to Pycroft and demanded strict action. Videos of both players have been attached as proof.”
Full drama on live! 🔥
— CricketMAN2 (@Cricketman2_) September 24, 2025
Haris Rauf vs Abhishek Sharma & Shubman Gill
Then Rinku Singh & Harshit Rana stepped in…
Rinku bhai handled it like a boss! 💯#HarisRauf #ShubmanGill #RinkuSingh #IPL #CricketTwitter #INDvsPAK pic.twitter.com/w6LL4MFyeA
Farhan strange also drew BCCI ire. After reaching his half-century, the Pakistan opener celebrated with a “gun-firing” gesture, which the Indian team said crossed the line of acceptable celebrations.
Islamic Republic of Pakistan’s cricketer Sahibzada Farhan celebrated his half-century in the Asia Cup match against India by mimicking a gun with his bat. pic.twitter.com/iqQLvSb1Hp
— Newsum (@Newsumindia) September 21, 2025
Later, Farhan defended himself in a press interaction, saying it was simply a spontaneous celebration and that he didn’t care how people perceived it. For India, those words only reinforced the belief that the actions were deliberate, not heat-of-the-moment impulses.
Also see: Nashra Sandhu Creates History With Six-Wicket Haul, Sparks Buzz With ‘Six-Finger’ Celebration
Pakistan camp, at least officially, has stayed silent on the matter. When asked about the gestures, fast bowler Shaheen Afridi brushed off the controversy. “Our job is to play cricket; people can think what they want. We are here to win the Asia Cup,” he told reporters before their next match.
Also Read: Irfan Pathan Slams Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan for Poor Sportsmanship
What complicates the picture is that Pakistan had already lodged their own complaints earlier in the tournament. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) accused Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav of poor sportsmanship for not shaking hands with Salman Ali Agha at the toss on September 14 and for certain remarks in his post-match press conference.
Match referee Richie Richardson later wrote to the Indian side seeking a response from Yadav, stating that his comments “harmed the image of the game.” If he contests the charge, a formal hearing involving Yadav, Richardson, and PCB officials will take place.
The result is an uneasy stalemate. India wants action against Rauf and Farhan for conduct they see as premeditated provocation. Pakistan, meanwhile, has been pressing cases against Suryakumar Yadav, even threatening to boycott matches after some of their own complaints were dismissed earlier.
Add to this the Pakistan team arriving nearly an hour late for their game against the UAE and cancelling a scheduled press conference before facing India, and it paints a picture of tension spilling well beyond the field.
India beat Pakistan twice, by seven wickets in the group stage and six wickets in the Super Four. But the shadow of these complaints now hangs over the tournament. With both boards trading accusations, the next step rests with the officials, who must decide where to draw the line between passion and provocation. And that decision may shape not just this Asia Cup, but the tone of India–Pakistan cricket encounters for years to come.
