‘How Insensitive’: Ex-Keeper On Sahibzada Farhan’s Controversial Celebration Vs IND | Cricket News

After India’s decision not to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts, the Men in Blue encountered some distasteful antics and provocative gestures in response during the two teams’ Asia Cup 2025 rematch on Sunday, September 21. In the heat of the battle for supremacy in the Super 4s stage, Pakistani players ended up crossing the line in Dubai.

Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan and speedster Haris Rauf received the wrath of former India wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta for these ‘insensitive’ actions.

After crossing his fifty in the first innings, Farhan childishly turned his bat into a gun and fired fictional shots in the air. The act was deemed provocative by many amidst persisting sadness on the Indian side of the border about the cowardly Pahalgam terrorist attack in May, where 26 Indian innocents lost their lives.

“If you speak about Sahibzada Farhan’s celebration, it was insensitive. How insensitive can you be? You played well, you scored 50, but how insensitive. People have lost their lives, and families have lost their near and dear ones. How can you do that? How can you celebrate like that?” said Dasgupta on his YouTube channel.

“This is childishness. We always say that at this level, it is not about the skill, it is about the maturity and what’s in your head. In these aspects, the thought process and the mentality, the rivalry is not there, and if the situation persists, it won’t be there.”

Later on in the game, Rauf overreacted to a section of Indian fans shouting Virat Kohli’s name his way and repeatedly gestured 6-0 towards them. It was yet another reference towards Pakistan’s alleged act of shooting down six Indian fighter jets during the Indian army’s brave and successful execution of Operation Sindoor.

“Haris Rauf is taking on the crowd. Just focus on your job. On the field, focus on yourself and delivery. Your focus is somewhere else. For having fun for 15-20 minutes, you are ready to lose your focus and worry about everything that you don’t need to be concerned about,” he added.

Ultimately, the Indian team retained its dominant streak over the neighbours and won comfortably by six wickets to take a leap towards securing a place in the final. For Pakistan, a defeat meant they now head for a direct knock-out match against Sri Lanka on Tuesday, September 23. India takes on Bangladesh in their next Super 4s encounter on Wednesday, September 24.