The International Cricket Council (ICC) has handed out fines and warnings after disciplinary hearings following the heated Asia Cup matches between India and Pakistan. Pakistan’s fast bowler Haris Rauf was fined 30% of his match fees for his “rude and aggressive” on-field actions during the Super Four clash on September 21, 2025. His gestures, which mocked Indian fans and referenced falling planes, were deemed provocative and unacceptable by the ICC.
Sahibzada Farhan Escapes With a Warning
Teammate Sahibzada Farhan received a formal warning without any financial penalty for his half-century celebration gesture resembling an open-air gunshot. Farhan defended his actions as cultural, stating it is a traditional celebratory gesture from his Pakhtun heritage. He also cited similar celebrations by Indian cricket icons Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni to reinforce his stance that the gesture was non-political.
Suryakumar Yadav Fined for Post-Match Comments
Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav was also fined 30% of his match fees for comments made after the September 14 India-Pakistan match, which the ICC considered as breaching the code of conduct due to political allusions. Yadav had dedicated India’s win to victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and praised the Indian armed forces. He pleaded not guilty but was found guilty, with India planning to appeal the verdict.
ICC Hearing and Outcome
The disciplinary proceedings were conducted under the supervision of match referee Richie Richardson at the Pakistan team hotel. Both Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan appeared in person along with team manager Naveed Akram Cheema and had submitted written responses earlier. While both players pleaded not guilty, the ICC found Haris Rauf’s behavior unacceptable, resulting in a 30% fine. Farhan received only a warning, and Suryakumar’s sanction is effective with ongoing appeal processes.
#WATCH | Delhi | On US President Trump announcing up to 100% tariffs on imports of branded and patented pharmaceutical drugs from Oct 1, MEA Official Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, “We saw a notice yesterday on social media that talked about new tariffs. We’ve seen the report… pic.twitter.com/RyIA1ImVL9
— ANI (@ANI) September 26, 2025
The Asia Cup Impact
These incidents added extra fuel to an already intense cricket rivalry between India and Pakistan during the Asia Cup, underlining how emotions run high in this fixture. The ICC’s response aims to keep the spirit of the game intact while discouraging provocative and political gestures or comments on the international stage.
