Pakistan Cricket Board president Mohsin Naqvi has ignited a firestorm in the Asia Cup 2025 by sharing a video of football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo mimicking a plane, echoing the controversial ‘fighter jet downing’ gesture made by Haris Rauf during the recent India vs Pakistan Super 4 clash. Naqvi’s actions, posted on X while India faced Bangladesh, have escalated simmering tensions and sparked condemnation across both cricketing and political circles.
PCB Chief’s Cristiano Ronaldo post intensifies Asia Cup row
The controversy began in the high-voltage India and Pakistan Super 4s clash in Dubai when Pakistan pacer Rauf, taunted by chants of “Kohli, Kohli” from the crowd referencing Virat Kohli’s Melbourne heroics in 2022, responded with a provocative gesture—mimicking a fighter jet crashing. He repeated the gesture after dismissing Sanju Samson and signaled “6-0” to the stands, alluding to Pakistan’s disputed claims of downing six Indian jets during Operation Sindoor, launched after the Pahalgam terror attack. Rauf’s behaviour came out after his teammate Sahibzada Farhan, who celebrated his half-century by imitating the act of firing an AK-47, further enraging audiences given the tournament’s charged security backdrop.
Naqvi, both Pakistan Cricket Board chief and Asian Cricket Council president, poured fuel on this fire by sharing a slow-motion clip of Ronaldo, typically explaining his free-kick technique, but in this context edited to resemble the same controversial aircraft-downing gesture. Naqvi’s post, notably shared without any caption but widely interpreted within the ongoing row, has been seen as an attempt to justify the provocative conduct of Pakistani players and assert political narratives in a sporting context.
Also READ: Asia Cup 2025: BCCI lodges complaint against Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan for controversial gestures during IND vs PAK Super 4 clash
Sportsmanship eclipsed by off-field drama
These gestures, instead of defusing, only exacerbated bilateral tensions. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officially lodged complaints to match referee Andy Pycroft over the Pakistani players’ actions, demanding accountability. The PCB, in turn, protested alleged snubs and handshake drama by Indian players, while also staging symbolic “powerplays” in the media. Despite the diplomatic ripple effect, cricket continued with India securing an emphatic win over Pakistan, securing their place in the Asia Cup final after an unbeaten run.
However, as the matches play out on the field, the Asia Cup 2025 is now as much about diplomatic sparring and symbolic gestures as it is about runs, wickets, and trophies. Naqvi’s decision to invoke Ronaldo’s global celebrity in a deeply political manner signals a worrying trend where on-field rivalries risk being overshadowed by off-field provocations. The resulting fallout has reignited debate about athlete conduct, the responsibilities of sports administrators, and the thin line separating cricketing banter from politically-fuelled controversy amidst heightened tensions between neighbouring nations.