Ind-Pak Asia Cup round two: Farhan, Rauf's on-field gestures spark outrage
India, Sept. 23 -- Whenever India and Pakistan compete, tensions run high, and Sunday's Asia Cup Super Fours match was no different.
Pakistan batted first and scored 171 runs, with Sahibzada Farhan hitting a strong half-century. But what caught more attention was his celebration: he pointed his bat like a gun, which many online likened to firing an "AK-47".
As India began their chase, tensions quickly spilled over. Abhishek Sharma hit a six off Shaheen Afridi and exchanged words with him. By the fifth over, another confrontation broke out when Shubman Gill pulled Haris Rauf through midwicket and challenged the pacer. As Rauf turned to respond, Sharma stepped in, with tempers teetering on the edge until umpire Gazi Sohel intervened. "They [the bowlers] were coming out to us without any reason. I did not like it at all. That's why I went after them," Sharma said after the game.
Rauf sparked the biggest storm when, near Indian fans chanting "Kohli, Kohli", he made a "6-0" hand gesture, referencing unconfirmed claims of Pakistan shooting down six Indian jets during Operation Sindoor. He also mimicked a crashing plane, which led to boos from the crowd and more outrage from the Indian side of the internet. The on-field clashes reignited the debate over whether India should have skipped playing Pakistan in this Asia Cup.htc...
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