Asia Cup: Why Were Harris Rauf Fined and Shahibzada Farhan Reprimanded by ICC?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Harris Rauf fined 30% of match fee
- Shahibzada Farhan reprimanded for gestures
- Both players faced Level 1 offence charges
- Controversial gestures sparked complaints
- Upcoming final between India and Pakistan
New Delhi, Sep 26 (NationPress) The International Cricket Council (ICC) has imposed a fine of 30% of his match fee on Harris Rauf from Pakistan and issued a reprimand to opener Shahibzada Farhan due to their contentious gestures during the Super 4s clash against India in the Men's T20 Asia Cup on Sunday, as reported.
Rauf's fine stems from his provocative gesture depicting an airplane crash, while Farhan faced reprimand for his gunshot celebration with the bat during the same match.
Both players were deemed guilty of violating a Level 1 offence under the Player Code of Conduct. Rauf's actions, which included a controversial political gesture resembling a plane crash, and Farhan's bat gestures, interpreted by fans as references to Pakistan's unfounded claims about downing Indian jets during Operation Sindoor, drew criticism.
However, Farhan received no financial penalty but was merely cautioned, according to Cricbuzz.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had previously lodged a complaint against the Indian team following Suryakumar Yadav's purported political comments after their initial match on September 14. Notably, the Indian players opted not to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts, and Suryakumar dedicated the victory to the nation's armed forces.
In response, the BCCI filed a complaint with the ICC regarding Rauf and Farhan's controversial antics during their Super 4s encounter.
Both players defended their actions, with Rauf claiming that his '6-0' gesture was innocuous and not aimed at India, while Farhan referenced similar celebrations by former Indian captains MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli in his defense.
Typically, Level 1 infractions can result in fines up to 50% of the match fee along with one or two demerit points. In this case, the players faced only financial penalties and warnings, with a clear directive to refrain from such behaviour in the future.
India and Pakistan are poised to meet for the third time in the Asia Cup, with the final match scheduled for this Sunday. While Suryakumar Yadav and his team remain unbeaten in the tournament, Pakistan has encountered two defeats in six matches, both against India.