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Haris Rauf arguably crossed a line with his political gesture during the India-Pakistan clash on Sunday. But can he be punished for it by the ICC?
After years of modest, friendly battles in India and Pakistan men’s cricket matches, the Asia Cup 2025 is seeing something different. Players from both sides are not shying away from engaging in heated verbal arguments and passive-aggressive gestures.
In that process, some lines have been blurred (like the handshake controversy and Pakistan captain Salman Agha’s boycotting a post-match presentation ceremony), while other lines have been inarguably crossed. Fast bowler Haris Rauf taunting Indian fans with a controversial ‘6-0’ hand gesture arguably qualifies as the latter.
It was in reference to Pakistan’s unsubstantiated claims that they downed six Indian fighter jets during the four-day border conflict following Operation Sindoor. At the heart of it, it’s a political gesture.
Now, the ball is in the Jay Shah-chaired International Cricket Council (ICC)’s court to decide whether it warrants a punishment.
The international body generally does not allow political gestures by players or officials under its Code of Conduct, particularly regarding personal messages on clothing and equipment. However, the application of this rule over the years has been subjective and thus, criticized for being inconsistent.
The ICC’s Clothing and Equipment Rules state that players cannot “wear, display or otherwise convey personal messages” that relate to “political, religious or racial activities or causes”. This rule was used to ban England’s Moeen Ali from wearing “Save Gaza” and “Free Palestine” wristbands during a Test match, and Australia’s Usman Khawaja for a simple peace symbol on his shoes.
In 2019, Indian captain MS Dhoni was forced to remove a military dagger insignia from his wicket-keeping gloves at the World Cup, with the ICC citing the rules against personal messages.
Crucially, the ICC doesn’t have any explicit rule banning political ‘gestures’ in its Code of Conduct. However, it does carry a broader “conduct that brings the game into disrepute” clause, which can be used for such incidents, though it’s rare. If Rauf or any other player is charged with it, it’ll be considered a Level 1 breach, which can bring him one demerit point, a reprimand and/or a fine of match fees up to 50%.
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