ICC Reprimands Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan for Code Breach in India-Pakistan Asia Cup Clash
PakkaHyderabadi 
Pakistan players Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan face ICC reprimand for breaching the Player Code of Conduct during the India-Pakistan clash in Dubai.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has reprimanded Pakistan cricketers Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan for their conduct during the India-Pakistan Super Four clash in Dubai on September 21.
Both players were found guilty of a Level 1 offence under the ICC’s Player Code of Conduct. The hearing, conducted by match referee Richie Richardson and ICC’s Sally Higgins, concluded that the players’ celebrations carried political undertones.
According to sources, pacer Haris Rauf has been fined after a portion of his match fee was deducted. He was specifically pulled up for mimicking a crashing plane on the field, an act seen as provocative. The ICC described his behaviour as bringing the game into disrepute.
Meanwhile, opener Sahibzada Farhan was reprimanded for wielding his bat like a gun after reaching his half-century. Although he scored a gritty 58 off 45 balls, his gesture overshadowed his performance and drew criticism.
The charges against the two Pakistan players were brought by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which formally complained about their actions. The BCCI pointed out that the ICC Code prohibits making political statements or gestures on the field of play.
Rauf’s plane-crash act was widely interpreted as a symbolic reference to the India-Pakistan conflict, particularly past aerial encounters. Farhan’s gun celebration, though perhaps spontaneous, was also seen in the same light.
Team manager Naveed Cheema was present alongside the players during the disciplinary hearing. The ICC made it clear that future acts of this nature would invite stricter penalties, including potential suspensions.
Interestingly, in a separate hearing, the ICC also reprimanded India captain Suryakumar Yadav for dedicating his win to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. While his gesture was appreciated by many, the ICC reminded him that no political statements can be made under its code.
With the Asia Cup heating up, the India-Pakistan rivalry has once again spilled beyond cricketing boundaries. Having already lost twice to India in this tournament, Pakistan will face their arch-rivals once more in the final on September 28, a match that now carries not just sporting weight, but also heightened tension after the recent controversies.
