The ICC fined veteran Pakistani speedster Haris Rauf 30% of his match earnings for using “abusive language and aggressive gestures” in the Super 4 Asia Cup match against India on September 21.
When the Indian hitters were hammering the Pakistani bowlers, Rauf got into a verbal spat with Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill during the intense match. Indian fans jeered Rauf with “Kohli, Kohli” chants as he fielded on the boundary line. In response, the right-arm pacer made a gesture that might have been a mockery of India’s military actions following the Pahalgam attack: a plane crash.
In the meantime, Sahibzada Farhan, the opening batter carried out his 50 th birthday in a special manner. He feigned shooting at the heaven with his bat in his hand as a gun. Farhan was warned and not fined.
The hearing was chaired by Richie Richardson, the match referee and in the hotel where the Pakistan team was staying. Both the players were present in person, although they submitted their remarks in writing though they were present with their team manager Naveed Akram Cheema.
“Match referee Richie Richardson had completed his hearing on Friday afternoon at the team hotel. Hars Rauf has been fined 30 per cent of his match fees for aggressive behaviour, and Farhan has been let off with a warning,” a tournament source was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times on conditions of anonymity. Earlier, Rauf and Farhan had pleaded not guilty during their ICC hearing.
The two were accused of making offensive gestures in a formal complaint submitted by the BCCI on Wednesday. When India refused to shake hands with the players after defeating them in the Asia Cup group stage match, the rivalry between the two teams grew more intense.
Suryakumar Yadav fined for political remarks ahead of Asia Cup 2025 final
According to reports, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav has been warned to abstain from making any remarks that can be interpreted as political. This followed a complaint from Pakistan regarding his statements honoring the Indian Armed Forces and the Pahalgam terror victims during the group-stage encounter victory. Similar to Rauf and Farhan, Suryakumar had first refuted the accusation.
It is known that Richardson denied Suryakumar’s not-guilty plea and fined him 30% of his match fee. India has filed an appeal against the decision.
Now, on Sunday, September 28, the bitter rivals will square off in the 2025 Asia Cup finals at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
