NEW DELHI: The high-octane India vs Pakistan clash in the Asia Cup 2025 Super Four at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, did not just serve up a six-wicket win for the defending champions India — it also delivered fresh controversy.
Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf found himself in the middle of a storm after he taunted Indian fans with a provocative “6-0” gesture near the boundary ropes, a moment that has since gone viral on social media.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The gesture, captured in multiple videos and photos, showed Rauf raising his hand to signal “6-0,” a reference to Pakistan’s unverified and politically charged claims of downing six Indian fighter jets during a four-day military scuffle following Operation Sindoor. During the match in Dubai, the pacer even acted out the motion of a crashing plane in front of the fans, further fuelling tensions.
WATCH: Haris Rauf taunts fans with 6-0 gestureThe incident unfolded while Rauf was fielding close to a packed Indian section of the crowd near the boundary rope. Fans had been chanting “Kohli, Kohli” to rile him up, a reminder of Virat Kohli’s iconic straight six off his bowling in the T20 World Cup 2022. In response, the 31-year-old pacer gestured towards them with the controversial signal, triggering loud boos from Indian supporters and sparking outrage online.
WACTH: Haris Rauf acting out the motion of a crashing planeThe cricket, however, was dominated by India. Chasing 172, Abhishek Sharma hammered a blistering 74 off just 39 balls, including six fours and five towering sixes. His 105-run opening stand with Shubman Gill (47) laid the perfect platform, as Tilak Varma (30*) and Hardik Pandya (7*) sealed the win in 18.5 overs.
While Rauf opted to gesture in a provocative manner, India's Abhishek Sharma took the other route, as he held up his hand to gesture the letter 'L'. He later explained that the 'L' stood for 'love' and that it was aimed at the Indian supporters.
On-field tensions between Rauf and Indian players also flared. In the fifth over, after Gill cracked a crisp boundary, Rauf exchanged heated words with Abhishek Sharma, forcing umpire Gazi Sohel to step in. Though tempers cooled quickly, the episode added to the charged atmosphere.
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