The International Cricket Council (ICC) has imposed fines on Pakistan’s fast bowler Haris Rauf and Indian team captain Suryakumar Yadav. However, Pakistani batter Sahibzada Farhan has been warned to be more cautious in the future.
On Friday, the ICC announced its verdict regarding Haris Rauf, Sahibzada Farhan, and Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav.
According to Indian media reports, the ICC fined Haris Rauf 30% of his match fee and also issued him a warning for making gestures. Haris Rauf was found guilty of violating the code of conduct.
No fine was imposed on Sahibzada Farhan, but he received a warning for waving his bat like a gun during a celebration. The ICC categorized the actions of both players as a Level 1 offense.
Indian media stated that the ICC has advised Sahibzada Farhan to remain cautious in the future.
On the other hand, the ICC found Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav guilty for making a political statement and fined him 30% of his match fee. Suryakumar violated the code of conduct during the Pakistan-India match.
Following a complaint from the Indian Cricket Board, a hearing was held against Pakistani cricketers Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan. Both players appeared before ICC officials, where the match referee asked them several questions. The Pakistani players also submitted their written responses during the hearing.
Regarding the “0-6” gesture and celebratory style during the match against India, Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan gave responses that left the match referee speechless.
Sources revealed that Haris Rauf countered the accusation by asking the referee what the “0-6” gesture even meant. Match referee Richie Richardson said, “You made a 0-6 gesture, and the Indian board has objected to it.”
Haris Rauf responded, “Let the Indian board explain what 0-6 even means.” Richardson replied, “They believe the gesture is being associated with something else.”
Rauf asked, “Then you or they tell me what I am associating it with. Why should I explain a meaning I never intended?” The match referee then asked why he repeated the gesture multiple times.
Rauf explained, “I was simply pointing towards the fans, nothing more.”
Meanwhile, Sahibzada Farhan also defended himself convincingly during the hearing. He stated, “We are Pathans. Celebrating with a gun gesture is part of our tradition when we are happy.”
The match referee responded, “This is a cricket match. It seems your intention was to provoke the opposing team.”
Farhan countered, “If it’s about cricket, then Dhoni and Kohli have done similar celebrations in the past.”
The referee said, “But the environment in which your match was played has raised concerns in India.”
Farhan replied, “Even then, Dhoni and Kohli did it in a cricket match — what makes this different?”
The match referee concluded, “The opposing team and their board have raised objections. We will make a decision based on that.”
