‘AK-47’ Gesture by Pakistan Cricketer Farhan Fuels Political Backlash, Boycott Calls

Controversy erupted after Pakistani cricketers Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan made gestures during Sunday’s Asia Cup Super Four match against India in Dubai, drawing criticism from politicians and social media alike.

Haris Rauf reportedly responded to jeers from spectators during India’s innings by signaling ‘0-6,’ which social media users interpreted as a reference to Islamabad’s claims of downing Indian fighter jets during May’s Operation Sindoor military clashes following the Pahalgam attack. Rauf also engaged in a heated exchange with India opener Abhishek Sharma.

Earlier, during Pakistan’s innings, Farhan celebrated his half-century by pointing his bat like a gun, prompting viewers to liken the gesture to an AK-47. Critics described the act as unnecessary and provocative.

Political figures weighed in, linking the gestures to past cross-border violence. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut condemned Farhan’s celebration, calling it a reflection of how Pakistani terrorists killed 26 civilians in Pahalgam. “Reached his fifty and gripped the bat like an AK-47, firing boundaries! This spit in the face of BCCI & Modi govt is peak humiliation,” he wrote on X.

Samajwadi Party leader Sharad Saran also criticised Farhan, questioning whether India should have played Pakistan in the Asia Cup so soon after the Pahalgam attack. Saran said Farhan’s gestures mocked India in the name of the killings.

The backlash came as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Amit Malviya pointed out perceived contradictions in the opposition, noting that some who had opposed the India-Pakistan match were still following and reacting to the game.

India won the match by six wickets, chasing Pakistan’s target of 172 with seven balls to spare. The opening partnership of Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill, which yielded 105 runs, helped secure India’s second win in the tournament.

Videos of Rauf and Farhan’s gestures quickly circulated on social media, reigniting debate over the broader political implications of India-Pakistan cricket fixtures in the wake of recent military tensions.