Pakistani women’s team spinner Nashra Sundhu recently found herself at the center of a social media storm following a celebration that struck many fans as eerily similar to controversial gestures made by fellow cricketer Haris Rauf against India.
During a match against South Africa in Lahore, Sundhu achieved a significant milestone, becoming the fastest Pakistani woman to claim 100 wickets in One Day International (ODI) cricket. To mark her impressive six-wicket haul, she proudly raised six fingers. Later, she even shared a photo of the celebration online with a caption expressing her gratitude.
“Alhamdullillah, Truly humbled to reach the milestone of 100 ODI wickets with a player of the match award. I am grateful to my family, teammates, and support staff for their constant support. Looking ahead with gratitude and determination,” Sundhu wrote on social media.
While her performance was widely applauded, the gesture quickly ignited comparisons to Haris Rauf, who had caused an uproar just a day earlier with his “6-0” gesture and an additional “plane-crashing” motion during the Asia Cup Super 4 clash against India. Many fans couldn’t help but draw parallels, leading to swift online criticism.
It’s important to note that unlike Rauf’s actions, Sundhu’s raised six fingers were directly indicative of her achievement—six wickets in the match. However, the timing of her celebration, coming so soon after the highly publicized Asia Cup incident, meant that public perception was already heightened, leading to a mixed reaction from observers online.
This incident adds to a growing discussion about on-field celebrations among Pakistani players. Earlier in the same match, Sahibzada Farhan faced similar backlash for his “AK-47” gesture after scoring a half-century, where he mimicked firing a gun into the crowd. Farhan later clarified that his action was a spontaneous, spur-of-the-moment reaction, not premeditated.
Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan weighed in on these controversies, strongly criticizing such actions. “The gestures he made in the field yesterday were needless. It tells about both of their nature and what upbringing they come from,” Pathan stated, highlighting concerns over sportsmanship.
Ultimately, while Nashra Sundhu’s gesture was intended as a genuine celebration of her personal best, its unfortunate timing placed it under the microscope, resulting in a divided response from the cricket community.