Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan criticized Pakistan players Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan for their controversial celebrations during the Asia Cup Super Four clash. Farhan, after completing his half-century on Sunday, marked the moment with a gun-like gesture, while Rauf added fuel to the fire by signaling '6-0' toward the crowd, actions that quickly drew attention and debate.
Rauf also got involved with India opener Abhishek Sharma a few times. Pathan slammed both Pakistan cricketers but sarcastically added that he was not surprised from the gestures. He went on to explain how fans don't know how cricketers are behind the scenes.
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During India's chase, Rauf was teased by Indian fans with chants of 'Virat Kohli' and he quickly responded with a '0-6' gesture, which could be referring to Pakistan's claim of downing six Indian fighter jets during the border clash post Operation Sindoor.
Farhan was criticised for his gun-shot celebration which may have found insensitive to many after the recent terro attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam.
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Pathan slammed both Pakistan cricketers and believes their actions reflected their upbringing.
"I want to talk about the celebrations a little bit. Sahibzada Farhan, you know the tensions between the two sides. Haris Rauf for that matter, I thought that he was a decent bloke. I met him in Australia a few years back. The gestures he made in the field yesterday, they were needless. It tells about both of their nature, and what upbringing they come from," Irfan Pathan said on YouTube.
"Play cricket in the field. To stoop down to a personal level is quite bad. And then you expect us to not talk about it, that is wrong. But I am not surprised at all. They are capable of doing these things. What you got to see on TV, that was bad itself, but the things that go on behind the scenes, the fans would be shocked if they get to know about it," he added.
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