Pakistani fast bowler Haris Rauf sparked controversy during Sunday’s Asia Cup Super 4s match against India in Dubai by making politically charged gestures. Videos showed him making fighter jet crash signals and ‘6-0’ gestures towards Indian fans. That wasn’t the only instance of him making such a gesture. He repeated it while celebrating Sanju Samson’s wicket, leading to widespread criticism and calls for boycott.
The incident has intensified tensions as Pakistan’s team appears to be mixing military conflicts with cricket. Rauf’s gestures referenced unverified claims by Pakistani media about downing six Indian fighter jets during Operation Sindoor.Samson, who scored 13 runs off 17 balls, was bowled by Rauf in the 17th over. Though India won the match, Rauf’s behaviour has drawn heavy criticism on social media platforms.WATCH: Haris Rauf with a second jet crash gesture during India vs PakistanPakistan captain Salman Agha tried to focus on the game’s positives despite the loss. “The batting was a lot better today, and that’s a positive,” he said during the post-match conference. He noted their strong start but acknowledged challenges with the soft ball after ten overs.Agha also addressed their performance gaps, saying, “To win, you have to excel in all three facets of the game. We didn’t field well or start well with the ball.” He emphasised moving forward to their next game, against Sri Lanka on Tuesday, hoping for better results.
