Pakistan quick Haris Rauf has been found guilty of breaching the ICC code of conduct during the Asia Cup Super Four match against India on September 21. He was fined 30% of his match fee by ICC match referee Richie Richardson. As per ESPNcricinfo, Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan was not fined and let off with a warning by Richardson.
BCCI had filed an official complaint against Rauf and Farhan with the ICC for their gesticulation on the field according to the aforementioned publication. Farhan’s celebration after registering his half-century and Rauf’s hand movements towards a section of fans while fielding at the boundary – the incidents the BCCI has complained about – led to a furore on social media given their geopolitical messaging.
PCB had also lodged an official complaint with the ICC against Suryakumar Yadav for the India captain dedicating the triumph over Pakistan in the first round, on September 14, to “the families of the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack” in April this year, which led to friction between India and Pakistan on the border.
As a result, Suryakumar was also fined 30% after being found guilty of breaching the ICC code of conduct. The Indian captain has been advised against making any political statements. All three cricketers had pleaded not guilty to the charges, which necessitated hearings with Richardson.
When these two teams first met during this edition, India decided against shaking hands with Pakistan at the toss and after the game, which they won by seven wickets. The second fixture between the neighbours saw tempers flare more so as heated exchanges between Pakistan quicks Shaheen Afridi and Rauf and India openers Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill made the rounds on social media.
The two teams are set to compete against each other for the third time in the tournament, in the Asia Cup final in Dubai on Sunday.
