The high-octane Asia Cup 2025 encounter between India and Pakistan at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai on Sunday has triggered a massive political row after Pakistani cricketers Harris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan made controversial gestures during the match.
India handed over Pakistan a humiliating defeat, courtesy Abhishek Sharma’s blistering 74 off 39 deliveries. This was the second time India thrashed Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025.
However, during the first innings, Pakistani opener Sahibzada Farhan’s celebrations after reaching 50 sparked a controversy as he gripped his bat like an AK-47 and mimicked firing shots.
Pakistani opener Sahibzada Farhan’s celebrations after reaching 50 sparked a controversy as he gripped his bat like an AK-47 firing and mimicked firing shots, which drew widespread criticism.
Later, when India was playing, Pakistani pacer Harris Rauf also instigated fans, looking towards the stands from the boundary line, making a gesture that appeared to indicate an aircraft going down.
Political leaders reacted sharply. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, who had previously called for boycotting the match, said the gestures were “a spit in the face of the BCCI and the Modi government.”
“Reached his fifty and gripped the bat like an AK-47, firing boundaries! This spit in the face of BCCI & Modi govt is peak humiliation. For enabling India’s shame, Jay Shah deserves the Bharat Ratna,” Raut wrote on X.
Sahibzada Farhan just proved on the field how Pakistani terrorists slaughtered 26 innocents in Pahalgam—gunning them down like it was nothing.
Reached his fifty and gripped the bat like an AK-47, firing boundaries!
This spit in the face of BCCI & Modi govt is peak humiliation.… pic.x.com/ojOxocKJfU— Sanjay Raut (@rautsanjay61) September 21, 2025
Samajwadi Party leader Sharad Saran also condemned Farhan’s actions and said he is reminding our country about past terrorist incidents.
“People are abusing him [Sahibzada Farhan], saying he did this to repeat and remind others of the Pahalgam attack. He mocked India in the name of killings that happened in India… If Modi had wanted, would India play cricket with Pakistan?” Sharad Saran said in a post on social media.
BJP leader Amit Malviya responded to Saran’s criticism, pointing out the irony of the Opposition’s stance as they also watched the match despite calling for a boycott.
“What is amusing is how the same Opposition, which was howling that India must not play Pakistan, sat glued to the match, even cheering Sahibzada Farhan’s theatrics! Almost feels like Shahid Afridi whispered a word to Rahul Gandhi in advance… nothing else explains the Congress ecosystem’s alacrity!”Malviya wrote on X