Asian Cricket Council head Mohsin Naqvi, who is also Pakistan’s Interior Minister and PCB Chairman, shared a controversial video on social media.
The India-Pakistan clash in the UAE has once again become more about controversy than cricket. This time, Cristiano Ronaldo’s video, Haris Rauf’s gesture, and Mohsin Naqvi’s post have created a storm on social media.
Asian Cricket Council head Mohsin Naqvi, who is also Pakistan’s Interior Minister and PCB Chairman, shared a controversial video on social media. The clip showed Portuguese football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo making a gesture. The original video was Ronaldo explaining a free-kick goal. But Naqvi’s post presented it in a way that looked like Ronaldo was mimicking an aircraft crash.
This came just after Haris Rauf’s tasteless act on the field. The fast bowler had made a gesture towards Indian fans that seemed to indicate an air crash. Critics say Naqvi’s video added fuel to the fire. Naqvi has often made provocative remarks against India, and his latest post has once again sparked outrage.
The controversy did not stop with Rauf. Pakistan’s Shahibzada Farhaan also celebrated his half-century with an AK-47-style gesture. These acts have drawn heavy criticism, with many calling them unnecessary and provocative.
During the game, Rauf dismissed India’s skipper Suryakumar Yadav for a duck. He later removed Sanju Samson for 13 runs. But instead of focusing on the wickets, Rauf made controversial gestures that overshadowed his performance.
Pakistan batted first and posted 171/5 in 20 overs. Shivam Dube picked up two wickets for India, while Hardik Pandya and Kuldeep Yadav took one each. The Indian bowlers kept Pakistan’s scoring under control despite some late hitting.
Even with Farhaan’s fifty, Pakistan’s celebrations were short-lived. Their total of 171 looked competitive, but the Men in Blue made light work of the chase.
India began their chase of 172 runs confidently. Abhishek Sharma set the tone with a brilliant knock. He scored 74 runs off just 39 balls, giving India the perfect start. Shubman Gill then added 47 runs, keeping India ahead of the required rate.
Tilak Varma played a calm and unbeaten innings of 30 runs. He guided the team home with 7 balls to spare. Hardik Pandya, unbeaten on 7 runs, supported Varma in the final overs to finish the job.
Haris Rauf managed to dismiss Suryakumar Yadav and Sanju Samson. His double strike gave Pakistan some hope. But the Indian batting line-up did not panic. Sharma’s explosive start and Gill’s solid contribution made sure India stayed on track. Varma and Pandya then sealed the win.
India won by six wickets, continuing their dominance over Pakistan in the tournament.
The match had all the ingredients of a classic India-Pakistan clash. However, instead of being remembered for cricket, it is now in the spotlight because of provocative acts.
Naqvi’s Ronaldo video post, Rauf’s crash gesture, and Farhaan’s AK-47 celebration have all been criticized as poor sportsmanship. Many fans believe these acts detract from the spirit of cricket.
The India vs Pakistan game in the UAE ended with a six-wicket victory for the Men in Blue. But controversies off the pitch have dominated headlines. From Ronaldo’s video being taken out of context by Naqvi to Haris Rauf’s provocative gesture, Pakistan’s players and officials have invited criticism.
India will look to build on their momentum, while Pakistan will face questions not only about its cricket but also about the conduct of its players.
