Pakistan cricket player Sahibzada Farhan has pleaded not guilty for his gun-fire celebration during India vs Pak Asia Cup match. He reportedly said that the celebration is traditional in his ethnic Pakhtun tribe, reported PTI citing sources.
Farhan said this during the ICC hearing of Pakistan cricketers Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan for allegedly provocative actions during the Asia Cup. The agency cited tournament sources as saying that sanctions are likely for some of the gestures on the two players.
If the report is to be believed, Rauf will be fined for “abusive language and aggressive gestures” during the game against India on Sunday last. Farhan, meanwhile, has pleaded not guilty of any code of conduct violation for his gun-fire celebration. He claimed that the symbolic celebration is a “traditional way of celebrating in his ethnic Pakhtun tribe” in Pakistan.
BCCI had accused the two players of making provocative gestures.
‘I did that…I don’t care about that’: Sahibzada Farhan
Farhan earlier stood by his gesture saying he didn’t care about others. The Pak’s highest scorer in their match against India on Sunday, Farhan, told reporters that the celebration was just a spur-of-the-moment thing and did not imply any message as such.
“That celebration was just a moment at that time. I do not do a lot of celebrations after scoring 50. But, it suddenly came to my mind that let’s do a celebration today. I did that. I don’t know how people will take it. I don’t care about that.” he said.
During the match, when he completed his 50, Farhan lifted his bat and positioned it as a gun, imitating as if firing from the gun while it was pointed towards the Indian team.
India, Pak faceoff in Asia Cup final
India won the Super 4s match by six wickets to continue their stranglehold over the traditional rivals in multilateral tournaments, even as Farhan’s gun-firing gesture in the air after reaching his half-century sparked a controversy.
The two teams will clash for the third time in the tournament in the final of the Asia Cup 2025 on Sunday, September 28.