Irfan Pathan believes that Sahibzada Farhan and Haris Rauf, two Pakistani players, went too far with their on-field gestures during Sunday, September 21’s India vs. Pakistan match in the Super-Four stage of the 2017 Asia Cup at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Irfan Pathan was referring to Farhan’s contentious “gunshot” celebration after reaching the age of fifty. On social media, the gesture drew harsh criticism. For the first time, he used the previously described celebration technique to mark reaching an international half-century. Following the events in Pahalgam earlier this year, where 26 people were shot down by terrorists, Farhan’s celebration has been perceived on social media as offensive.
Irfan Pathan also brought up Haris Rauf, who, while speaking to fans, made a “plane falling gesture” at the boundary rope. Indian fans are equally annoyed by the Pakistani pacer’s behavior. In addition, Raud gestured “6-0” to the supporters, alluding to Pakistan’s unsubstantiated claims that it shot down six Indian fighter jets during the post-Operation Sindoor military confrontation.
“The kind of acts he was doing on the field with Farhan’s celebration after his fifty. He knows what the two nations are going through, and then he does this on the ground? This does not justify anything. I used to think that Haris Rauf is a decent guy. In Australia when the Melbourne episode happened, he was very different back then. But what he did last night on the boundary lines, it felt that it was not required at all. Their gestures just portray what place these players have come from and what is their upbringing,” Pathan said in a video uploaded on his official YouTube channel.
“They were playing a game of win and loss, but then they took things on a personal level, that is where the limits were crossed. This is not a great thing, and if they think that we, as Indians, should not even talk or react on the issue, then it is a very bad thought.”
Irfan Pathan
India chased a goal of 172 runs in 18.5 overs and won by six wickets. Abhishek Sharma scored an incredible 74 from 39 balls to win Player of the Match.
