The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has formally lodged a complaint against Pakistan players Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan for their provocative gestures in the Asia Cup 2025 Super Four match against India. The Indian board also submitted video footage as evidence and asked the authorities to impose severe disciplinary action on the players.
According to the national media, the Indian camp complained to match referee Andy Pycroft about Rauf and Farhan’s behaviour, labelling it as “provocative and indecent behaviour.” Rauf was most specifically accused of continuously taunting the public by acting out a fighter jet whenever the Indian public chanted “Kohli, Kohli.”
He also mimed “6-0” after sending Sanju Samson packing, a highly debatable act attributed to false rumours regarding six Indian Air Force aircraft being brought down in Operation Sindoor earlier this year. “Such on-field behaviour is against the spirit of the game.
We have complained to Andy Pycroft about this and demand strict action. Not only has an official complaint been made to Pycroft, but videos of Rauf and Sahibzada have also been attached to the email, as the BCCI official said, as the report stated
Farhan, meanwhile, earned criticism for his firing of celebratory guns after reaching his half-century. The BCCI also protested Rauf’s on-field confrontation with Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill while they were playing, deeming them as intentional gestures of provocation.
According to the complaint, the Indian side is certain that both players’ behaviour was deliberate and exceeded the acceptable limits of sportsmanship. The board has called upon the Asian Cricket Council to take strict action to prevent such incidents in the future.
