Pakistani fast bowler Haris Rauf found himself at the center of attention during a recent Asia Cup Super Fours clash against India in Dubai. Beyond his performance on the field, Rauf drew significant criticism for a controversial gesture directed at Indian supporters.
While positioned near the boundary during India’s successful run-chase, Rauf was seen reacting to heckling from the Indian crowd. He raised his fingers to signal ‘0-6,’ a clear reference to Pakistan’s unverified claims of shooting down six Indian fighter jets during a border skirmish in May.
The incident quickly escalated, with videos of Rauf’s gesture rapidly circulating across social media platforms. Indian fans and pundits widely condemned and mocked the 31-year-old pacer for his provocative actions.
As Team India geared up for their subsequent Super Fours match against Bangladesh at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, the controversy surrounding Rauf remained a hot topic. Reporters were keen to get the Indian camp’s perspective on the Pakistani bowler’s antics.
However, India’s assistant coach chose to downplay the incident, stating simply, “Some of the things Haris did were not our concern. We fought with bat and showed them our strength.” This response highlighted India’s focus on their dominant performance, having already defeated Pakistan convincingly by six wickets in the Super Fours and previously in the group stage of the tournament. The Indian team maintained a dignified silence, letting their on-field results speak for themselves.