BCCI Files Complaint to ICC Over Pakistani Players’ Gestures, While PCB Protests Against Suryakumar Yadav

New Delhi: Tensions flared once again in the high-voltage India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 Super 4s match after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) filed a formal complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) against Pakistan cricketers Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan. The complaint, lodged on Wednesday, accuses the two players of making provocative gestures during the match, fueling further hostility between the two cricketing giants.

According to credible sources, the ICC has officially received BCCI’s email, and if Rauf and Sahibzada deny the allegations in writing, they may have to appear before ICC Elite Panel Referee Richie Richardson for a hearing. The matter could potentially escalate depending on their response and the ICC’s disciplinary review.

In a counter-move, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has also registered its own complaint with the ICC, targeting Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav. The PCB alleges that Yadav’s public remarks expressing solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack were politically sensitive and inappropriate in the context of the tournament. Both sides have therefore taken their rivalry off the pitch and into the hands of international cricket’s governing body.

Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan’s Controversial Gestures

The flashpoint came during the September 21 Super 4s encounter. Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf mocked India’s military operations by gesturing as if a plane had been shot down—an action that coincided with chants of “Kohli, Kohli” from Indian fans. The chants were in reference to Virat Kohli’s iconic match-winning sixes off Rauf in the 2022 T20 World Cup clash at the MCG. Adding to the controversy, Rauf reportedly hurled verbal taunts at Indian openers Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma, who responded strongly with the bat.

Meanwhile, Sahibzada Farhan celebrated his half-century by mimicking a machine gun firing action, using his bat as a prop. The gesture has drawn widespread criticism from cricket experts and fans across the globe. Later, Sahibzada tried to downplay the incident, stating: “That celebration was just a spontaneous reaction. I don’t usually celebrate in such ways, but it happened in the moment.”

Asian Cricket Council Chairman Draws More Controversy

The controversy deepened further when Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chairman and PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi shared a slow-motion video of Football legend Cristiano Ronaldo on social media platform ‘X’. In the clip, Ronaldo gestures as if describing an aircraft crashing—similar to the gesture Rauf made during the India-Pakistan clash. While Ronaldo was likely explaining the dip of his free-kick, the timing of Naqvi’s post was viewed as provocative by many observers.

Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s Interior Minister, is known for making inflammatory statements against India. The gesture video has therefore raised serious questions over whether the Indian cricket team, now qualified for the Asia Cup 2025 final, will share the stage with the ACC chairman during the presentation ceremony.

What Lies Ahead?

The BCCI’s complaint and the PCB’s counter-protest highlight the increasingly tense political undercurrents that often spill into India-Pakistan cricket matches. Both the ICC and the ACC will now have to carefully weigh their responses to avoid further escalation between the two boards. Insiders confirm that the matter has already reached the desks of ICC officials and BCCI administrators, with disciplinary action against the players and potential censure of Naqvi still on the table.

As the Asia Cup 2025 edges closer to its grand finale, the spotlight is not only on cricketing excellence but also on how governing bodies handle issues of sportsmanship, political symbolism, and international rivalry. The upcoming ICC hearing may set a crucial precedent for player conduct and administrative accountability in one of the world’s most emotionally charged cricket rivalries.