Pak cricketer crosses the line, displays provocative gesture during Super Four match against India

Monday 22 September, 2025 | 11:23 AM READ MALAYALAM VERSION

DUBAI: Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf has drawn criticism after making a controversial gesture aimed at Indian fans during his team’s Super 4 defeat against India in the Asia Cup. While tempers often flare in high-stakes India–Pakistan encounters, many felt Rauf’s actions went beyond acceptable sporting behaviour. The incident took place when Rauf was fielding near the boundary line.

During the match, a group of Indian supporters began chanting “Kohli,” a reminder of Virat Kohli’s unforgettable innings in the 2022 T20 World Cup. In that match, Kohli had struck two sixes off Rauf in the penultimate over, steering India to a dramatic victory. Irritated by the chants, Rauf turned towards the crowd and made a ‘6-0’ hand gesture, followed by a motion mimicking a plane crashing down.

The gesture was seen as a reference to Pakistan’s unsubstantiated claim that its military had shot down six Indian fighter jets during “Operation Sindoor.”

This was not the first time the ‘6-0’ gesture sparked controversy. Ahead of the India–Pakistan clash, Pakistani players were seen shouting “6-0, 6-0” during a training session at the ICC Academy. Although the chant initially referred to a football scoreline during a practice game, its repetition in front of Indian journalists led to suspicions of a deeper, politically charged meaning.

Former Pakistani cricketers have frequently urged that politics be kept separate from sport. However, critics argue that the on-field conduct of players like Haris Rauf reveals underlying tensions that blur the line between the two. Despite suffering back-to-back defeats against India in the Asia Cup, Pakistan still remains in contention for the final. If both teams advance, another highly charged India–Pakistan clash could be on the cards.