Dubai, Sep 21 (NationPress) On Sunday, Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan stirred controversy with a shocking celebration after scoring a fiery fifty against India during the Super Fours stage of the Men's T20 Asia Cup cricket tournament at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

The young cricketer burst onto the scene, achieving a stunning fifty in just 34 balls, and marked the occasion with a gunfire gesture that caught the attention of fans. The video of his contentious celebration quickly went viral on social media.

In matches between India and Pakistan, every action on the field is closely examined, often leading to disputes. Players sometimes amplify the tension with provocative actions that draw ire from fans on both sides.

Farhan's controversial gesture echoes the tragic Pahalgam attack, where innocent tourists were killed by Pakistan-supported terrorists. India's response to this incident was the launch of Operation Sindoor against terrorist infrastructures in Pakistan, which escalated tensions between the two nations.

This backdrop of terrorism has fueled calls for a boycott of cricket matches between these countries. Currently, the Indian government has suspended bilateral cricket, allowing encounters only in multilateral tournaments organized by the ACC or ICC.

In their last encounter at the Asia Cup, Indian players refrained from shaking hands with their Pakistani counterparts post-match in Dubai. Farhan's celebration appears to be a response to this no-handshake policy.

Though he has used this celebration in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) before, his gesture against India has provoked outrage among many fans due to its associations with the deaths of innocent individuals.

“This isn’t just a celebration. It’s a direct mockery of the lives lost by Indian soldiers and citizens. The ICC should take strong action against Sahibzada Farhan for this disgrace,” expressed a fan named Michael Scott, known on social media as @Sidyously.

Some supporters in Pakistan attempted to frame it as a celebration in honor of the Pakistani armed forces.

On Sunday, Sahibzada Farhan was the top scorer with 58 runs, while Faheem Ashraf contributed a quickfire 20 off eight balls, leading Pakistan to post a total of 171/5 in their 20 overs.

Farhan’s half-century served as the foundation of Pakistan’s innings, showcasing his skillful footwork and ability to manipulate the crease. He effectively disrupted India’s bowling, particularly targeting an off-form Jasprit Bumrah, who conceded 34 runs in his first three overs.

Pakistan seemed poised to achieve an even higher score, racing to 91/1 within the first 10 overs, with Farhan forming a 72-run partnership with Saim Ayub for the second wicket. However, they lost momentum once Shivam Dube entered the attack.