Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf has been handed a two-match ban for violating the ICC code of conduct during the Asia Cup Super Four match against India on September 21, the cricket body said on Tuesday.
The International Cricket Council confirmed the disciplinary results of the 2025 Asia Cup matches between India and Pakistan, with sanctions issued following hearings by members of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees.
According to the press release from cricket’s governing body, Rauf received two demerit points and a 30% match fee fine for conduct that “brought the game into disrepute” during the final between India and Pakistan on September 28.
He had previously been fined and given two penalty points for the same offense in the group match on September 14. The latest ruling increased his total to four demerit points, which led to two suspension points under the ICC Code of Conduct and resulted in a two-match ban, the press release said.
Rauf will now miss Pakistan’s ODI matches against South Africa scheduled for November 4 and 6.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan received an official warning and one demerit point for the same offence.
The controversy stemmed from an official complaint by the BCCI over the players’ actions during the Asia Cup Super Fours match in Dubai in September.
The incidents that grabbed attention on social media related to Farhan’s celebration after his half-century and Rauf’s gesture to some fans while fielding, which sparked debate among cricket followers.
In the September 14 match, Indian Suryakumar Yadav was similarly found guilty of conduct bringing the match into disrepute and was fined 30% of his match fee, along with two penalty points.
Before the September 21 encounter, Indian bowler Arshdeep Singh was acquitted of an alleged charge under Article 2.6 relating to obscene or insulting gestures, and no sanction was imposed.
At the final on 28 September, India’s Jasprit Bumrah accepted a charge under Article 2.21 and received an official warning along with one demerit point, thus avoiding a formal hearing.
The ICC reiterated that all violations and sanctions were determined in accordance with the governing body’s established disciplinary framework.
