The controversy surrounding Pakistan’s Asia Cup 2025 campaign is intensifying with new footage implicating another player. Just days after pacer Haris Rauf’s inflammatory “6-0” gesture towards Indian fans during Sunday’s Super Four match in Dubai ignited widespread outrage, fellow pace bowling all-rounder Faheem Ashraf has now been observed engaging in the same provocative act.
Haris Rauf gestures towards Indian fans while fielding on the boundary during the Asia Cup.
New viral footage from the intense India-Pakistan clash clearly shows Faheem, positioned near the boundary, making the “6-0” gesture with his fingers towards the Indian crowd. This fresh incident further amplifies concerns and criticism directed at Pakistani players for seemingly intertwining political and military references with the spirit of cricket.
Rauf himself had previously faced severe backlash for displaying fighter jet crash signals and the “6-0” hand gesture. Pakistani media had controversially linked this gesture to unverified claims regarding the downing of six Indian jets during ‘Operation Sindoor’. He controversially repeated this act after dismissing Sanju Samson for 13, escalating tensions on the field. Ultimately, India emerged victorious, winning the contest by six wickets and securing their second triumph over Pakistan in the tournament.
As the cricketing world debates potential disciplinary action, India’s assistant coach, Ryan ten Doeschate, downplayed the incident on Tuesday. He remarked, “Some of the things Haris did were not our concern. We fought with the bat and showed them our strength,” ahead of India’s upcoming Super Fours match against Bangladesh. Meanwhile, Pakistan captain Salman Agha opted to steer clear of the controversy, instead highlighting his team’s positives despite their defeat. “The batting was a lot better today, and that’s a positive. But to win, you have to excel in all three facets of the game,” Agha acknowledged.
These contentious gestures have reignited broader discussions about sportsmanship in high-stakes rivalries. Adding to the controversy, Pakistan’s U-17 football team also faced scrutiny when striker Muhammad Abdullah’s “sipping tea” celebration against India in the SAFF U-17 Championship in Colombo was widely interpreted as a provocative reference to the 2019 Abhinandan episode, sparking varied reactions across online platforms.