PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi to personally pay Haris Rauf’s fine

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has decided to personally pay the fine imposed on fast bowler Haris Rauf by the International Cricket Council (ICC). The decision follows a fiery Asia Cup Super Fours encounter between Pakistan and India, during which Rauf was sanctioned for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct.

Rauf was fined 30% of his match fee for using inappropriate language during the high-pressure clash. According to Cricket Resolved, Rauf earns approximately 418,584 Pakistani Rupees (PKR) per T20I match. The 30% deduction amounts to around PKR 125,575, which is roughly 39,000 Indian Rupees (INR). Naqvi has pledged to cover this amount out of his own pocket as per Samaa TV.

This gesture by Naqvi has sparked conversations in cricketing circles, especially considering the broader context of the match and the emotional tensions it carried. In a somewhat surprising move for a board chairman and the head of the Asian Cricket Council, Naqvi also posted a meme featuring football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, with reference to Haris Rauf’s 6-0 gesture to the crowd during the match. His tweet only added fuel to the fire in the ongoing controversy off the field.

Sahibzada Farhan also reprimanded for gun-shot gesture

Rauf’s offence was classified as a Level 1 violation by the ICC, stemming from an aggressive on-field exchange with Indian batters, including an animated gesture near the boundary. His teammate, Sahibzada Farhan, was also reprimanded — receiving an official warning for celebrating his half-century with a gun-shot gesture, which the match officials deemed inappropriate.

The BCCI lodged a formal complaint with match referee Andy Pycroft, citing concerns over the conduct of both Pakistani players. The complaint argued that the behaviour displayed during the match crossed acceptable boundaries of sportsmanship and on-field decorum.

In a parallel disciplinary action, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav was also fined 30% of his match fee for his post-match comments referencing the tragic terror attack in Pahalgam. The ICC found Yadav's statements to be in breach of its code relating to public comments on sensitive political matters.

India and Pakistan are scheduled to face each other on Sunday again, for the third time in three weeks, in the final of the Asia Cup.

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