ICC reprimand couldn’t deter Sahibzada Farhan, who sparked controversy again with a gun-firing celebration weeks after Asia Cup final.
Sahibzada Farhan Sparks Controversy Again with Gun-Firing Celebration
Pakistan batter Sahibzada Farhan showed no remorse following the ICC’s reprimand and formal warning, reigniting controversy with his signature gun-firing celebration during a recent promotional shoot. The images quickly went viral on social media, drawing widespread attention.
Farhan had initially caused a stir during the Super Four Asia Cup game on September 21 at Dubai International Stadium against India. Scoring a fifty in the match, he celebrated with the provocative gesture just a week after the infamous handshake controversy, which had already heightened tensions between the two nations.
Adding to the drama, teammate Haris Rauf frequently performed the ‘jet down’ celebration, seemingly to mock Indian players and spectators. Both players faced ICC sanctions: Rauf was fined 30% of his match fees for aggressive behavior, while Farhan received only a warning despite pleading not guilty. Weeks later, Farhan’s repetition of the gun-firing pose during a promotional shoot has reignited debates over sportsmanship and decorum.
Sahibzada Farhan's Instagram Post. 🔥⚡#SahibzadaFarhan #CAbat pic.twitter.com/G8eL9Ep92u
— CricFollow (@CricFollow56) October 8, 2025
ICC Takes Action Following Farhan and Rauf Controversy
The ICC acted after the BCCI lodged a complaint against Pakistan players Farhan and Rauf. Despite the scrutiny, Farhan downplayed the incident following Pakistan’s Super Four match against India.
“That (celebration) was just a moment at that time. I do not do a lot of celebrations after scoring 50. But, it suddenly came to my mind that let’s have a celebration today. I did that. I don’t know how people will take it. I don’t care about that. And the rest, you know, you should play aggressive cricket wherever you play. It is not necessary that it is India. You should play aggressive cricket against every team, like we played today,” Farhan said.
Notably, Farhan had also scored a fifty in the Asia Cup final against India on September 28 but chose not to celebrate. His efforts, however, could not prevent India from defeating Pakistan and retaining the title.