Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also heads the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), has stepped in after Haris Rauf was fined 30% of his match fees for using abusive language during the Super 4s match against India at the Dubai International Stadium on September 21. Naqvi has reportedly decided to pay the fine personally.
Rauf’s fine followed gestures and verbal exchanges with Indian players, including Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Sanju Samson. During the match, Rauf signaled to the Indian crowd referencing Pakistan’s claims in Operation Sindoor and used language deemed abusive, for which the ICC imposed the sanction. He pleaded not guilty during an official hearing before Richie Richardson.
Earlier, the BCCI lodged a formal complaint against Rauf and Pakistani opener Sahibzada Farhan for provocative gestures. Farhan was only warned by the ICC after mimicking gunfire with his bat.
Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav was also fined 30% of his match fees for dedicating a group-stage victory to the Indian Armed Forces, citing the Pahalgam terror attack.
India and Pakistan are set to face off again in the Asia Cup 2025 final on September 28 at the Dubai International Stadium. So far, India has won both encounters against Pakistan in the tournament.
