India vs Pakistan Asia Cup clash is once again in the spotlight for off-field controversies. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has decided to personally pay Haris Rauf’s fine. The International Cricket Council (ICC) fined the pacer 30% of his match fee for using abusive language during the Super Fours match in Dubai.
Reports say that Sahibzada Farhan also received a warning from the ICC. His gun-shot celebration after reaching fifty against India was considered provocative. Both incidents have added to the tension of the high-profile fixture.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) filed complaints against Haris Rauf and Farhan. Indian batter Abhishek Sharma said Pakistan players were “coming at us for no reason.” Rauf’s aggressive gestures and heated exchange with Abhishek and Shubman Gill became a talking point.
The India vs Pakistan Asia Cup row deepened further when PCB lodged complaints against Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav. He dedicated India’s earlier group-stage win to victims of the Pahalgam attack. The PCB accused him of politicising cricket. The ICC later fined Suryakumar 30% of his match fee.
The Asia Cup has become as much about controversy as cricket. While Rauf and Farhan faced sanctions, Mohsin Naqvi’s decision to cover the fine shows PCB’s backing for its players. The India-Pakistan rivalry remains one of the most intense in world cricket.
