Dubai, September 26, 2025: Pakistan cricketers Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan appeared before ICC match referee Ritchie Richardson on Friday following a complaint lodged by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
During the hearing, both players submitted written responses and strongly defended their actions. Farhan denied that his celebration carried any political message, saying it was part of cultural tradition. “In Pashtun traditions, this is how celebrations are done. India was not targeted,” he told the referee.
Haris Rauf, however, took a more forceful stance when questioned about a six-finger gesture he made during the Asia Cup Super Fours match in Dubai. Challenging the allegation, he asked: “Tell me, what do you people think this means?” In his written statement, he insisted that no evidence existed to prove wrongdoing.
When the referee suggested his gesture might have been directed at something else, Rauf shot back: “You tell me, what was I pointing at?” He explained that repeating the gesture was simply for fans and nothing more. The referee reportedly did not respond further to his remarks.
The controversy emerged after the BCCI lodged a formal complaint with the ICC regarding Farhan’s celebration after his half-century and Rauf’s on-field gesture. Both incidents had circulated widely on social media, drawing debate among cricket followers.
