BCCI vs PCB: Indian board demands action against Pakistan cricketers for provocative gestures; PCB retaliates

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has sprung into action against insensitive and provocative gestures made by Pakistan cricketers Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan, officially lodging a complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and submitting video proof.

Both Rauf and Farhan were involved in making infuriating gestures during Pakistan’s six-wicket defeat to India in the Super 4 match last Sunday. While Rauf was seen constantly making the jet-downing and ‘6-0’ gestures, seemingly suggesting that Pakistan shot down six Indian fighter jets during the military conflict earlier this year, Farhan made a ‘firing gun’ celebration after hitting a fifty, which many linked to the Pahalgam terror attack. The facts regarding the jets being shot down have not been proven yet by Pakistan.

BCCI complains against Rauf, Farhan to ICC

A furious BCCI lodged an official complaint with ICC match referee Andy Pycroft on Wednesday, demanding “strict action” against Rauf and Farhan for their “provocative and indecent behaviour.”

BCCI has also submitted video evidence to Pycroft regarding the insensitive on-field behaviour of the players, accusing them of going against the spirit of the game.

The Pakistan players could be asked to appear in front of ICC Elite Panel Referee, Richie Richardson, for a hearing if they refuse the allegations.

PCB retaliates with complaint against Suryakumar

The news agency PTI says that Pakistan has also lodged a complaint against India captain Suryakumar Yadav for making “political” comments after the first group game between the two countries. Suryakumar had dedicated India’s win to the Indian Armed Forces and expressed solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.

Meanwhile, senior Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi has defended his teammates , saying that everyone has the freedom to express themselves the way they want.

“Look, our job is to play cricket. Honestly, everyone has the right to express the way they want to,” Afridi said. “Everyone has their own respect. Everyone thinks the way they think. But our job is to play cricket. We have come to win the Asia Cup. And we as a team, are doing our best."

But it is not just the players; even Pakistani administrators have joined in the abhorrent act . Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) president Mohsin Naqvi on Wednesday also shared a video of Cristiano Ronaldo on X in which the footballer is seen making a jet-downing gesture.

While Ronaldo’s gesture was related to his match and it was made in a different context, Naqvi tried to insinuate the same ‘6-0’ theory with the help of the video.