Pakistan cricketers Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan stirred controversy during the India-Pakistan Asia Cup match in Dubai on Sunday with celebrations many in India found provocative and offensive.
Rauf responded to jeers from the crowd by making a &ldquo;0-6&rdquo; gesture, widely interpreted on social media as a reference to Islamabad&rsquo;s unverified claim of downing Indian jets during May&rsquo;s Operation Sindoor. 
Earlier, Farhan celebrated his half-century by pointing his bat like an AK-47, a move that drew strong criticism.
The incidents quickly spilled into politics. 
Shiv Sena (UBT)&rsquo;s Sanjay Raut compared Farhan&rsquo;s gesture to the 26 deaths in the April Pahalgam terror attack, calling it a &ldquo;spit in the face of BCCI &amp; Modi govt.&rdquo; 
SP&rsquo;s Sharad Saran and AAP&rsquo;s Saurabh Bharadwaj echoed calls for India to reconsider playing Pakistan. 
Meanwhile, BJP&rsquo;s Amit Malviya accused the Opposition of hypocrisy, saying they opposed yet celebrated the match.
On the field, India secured a six-wicket victory, with Abhishek Sharma (74) and Shubman Gill (47) forging a 105-run opening partnership in the chase of 172 runs.

Pakistan players celebrate controversially during India match

Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan’s gestures during India-Pakistan Asia Cup draw criticism

Pakistan Players’ Gestures Spark India Outrage

Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan’s gestures during India-Pakistan Asia Cup draw criticism

September 22, 2025 | 23:15 IST