Asia Cup 2025: India vs Pakistan Asia Cup match on Sunday wasn’t just about cricket – it turned into a political firestorm after Pakistani players crossed all boundaries with provocative gestures on the field. One Pakistani player celebrated his half-century by pointing his bat like a gun, mimicking what many on social media called an “AK-47”. Later, another player did a fighter jet crash gesture and flashed “0-6” with his fingers, a reference to Pakistan’s claim of downing six Indian aircraft during Operation Sindoor.

‘Reflects deeper mindset problem’

This has triggered outrage in India and brought back boycott calls, with many politicians asking why India continued playing. Many on social media expressed that these are not just gestures but reflect a “deeper mindset problem”. Some even said that “Pakistan only understands the language of Brahmos”. 

Before we take a look at more reactions, here’s a closer look at what exactly unfolded on the field in Dubai. 

During Pakistan’s innings at the Dubai International Stadium, opener Sahibzada Farhan, after completing his half-century, celebrated by holding his bat like a gun, while his batting partner stood next to him.

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It didn’t stop here. When India was chasing the 171-run target set by Pakistan, Haris Rauf, who was near the boundary, made a fighter jet crashing gesture and later lifted his fingers to indicate “0-6”, a reference to Pakistan’s false claim of downing Indian jets. 

Ind vs Pak Asia Cup match: Row over Pak players’ gestures

Aam Aadmi Party spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj asked, “Why didn’t we walk out right then?” He added, “In the India-Pakistan match, the Pakistani player is making a mockery of India in front of the whole world. He is making gestures of shooting down the Indian jet. Why were Pakistanis given such a world-class platform?”

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He went on to say, “Curse on the BJP’s central government. By playing 2-2 matches with Pakistan, they have told the entire world that everything is fine with Pakistan. And their such antics?”

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut lashed out at the ICC chairman Jay Shah, accusing him of enabling the match and mocking him with a sharp statement on X.

“Sahibzada Farhan just proved on the field how Pakistani terrorists slaughtered 26 innocents in Pahalgam – gunning them down like it was nothing. Reached his fifty and gripped the bat like an AK-47, firing boundaries! This spit in the face of the BCCI & the Modi government is peak humiliation. For enabling India’s shame, Jay Shah deserves the Bharat Ratna,” Raut said.

Tehseen Poonawalla reacted to the gestures made by Pakistani players on the field with very strong words, saying that BCCI is allowing cricket with such people. 

“No matter what the outcome of the IND v PAK match is, the BCCI has hurt every Indian. My dear fellow citizens, there is a thing called a liberal or sporting Pakistani. Ultimately, every Pakistani citizen has fantasies about destroying INDIA!” he said in another post. 

Apart from his theatrics on the boundary line, Rauf was also involved in a heated exchange with India opener Abhishek Sharma, which forced Umpire Gazi Sohel to get involved and separate the two.