By Bipin Dani

Copyright deccanchronicle

In a high-voltage Asia Cup 2025 Super Four encounter between India and Pakistan, opener Sahibzada Farhan lit up the scoreboard with a fluent 58 off 34 balls. His footwork against spin and confident use of the crease were textbook brilliance. But it wasn’t his batting that stole headlines—it was his celebration.After launching Axar Patel for a towering six to bring up his half-century in the 10th over, Farhan turned toward the Pakistan dugout and mimicked firing a gun, using his bat as a rifle. The gesture, broadcast live and instantly viral, has ignited a firestorm of criticism across social media and cricketing circles. No Handshakes, No Holding BackThe match was already simmering with tension. For the second time in the tournament, players from both sides refrained from post-match handshakes—a symbolic gesture of the strained relations between the two nations. Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav had previously dedicated India’s group-stage win to the victims of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 Indian lives and was linked to militants from Pakistan.Against this backdrop, Farhan’s gun-shot mimicry was seen by many as not just provocative, but deeply insensitive. Irfan Pathan Leads the ChargeFormer Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan didn’t mince words. Posting on social media, he wrote: “Is this kind of celebration allowed in cricket? ICC should ban him from cricket.” His comment has amplified calls for disciplinary action, with fans and commentators echoing concerns about the gesture’s symbolism and timing.At Mumbai’s Juhu Laughter Club, where mornings are typically filled with hearty chuckles and rhythmic breathing, Monday’s session took a decidedly somber turn. When chief Haresh Modi raised the topic of Sahibzada Farhan’s gun celebration, the usual laughter exercises gave way to murmurs of discontent. Members, visibly disturbed, questioned aloud: “Why should India continue playing against Pakistan? Why can’t we boycott this team altogether?” The sentiment, though voiced in a recreational setting, echoed a deeper national unease—where cricket’s symbolic gestures are no longer seen as harmless theatrics, but as provocations that strike at the heart of public emotion. Silent or Strategic?As of now, no other prominent Indian cricketer has publicly condemned Farhan’s celebration. The silence could be strategic—either to avoid inflaming tensions further or to let the ICC handle the matter through official channels. While social media is ablaze with outrage from fans and analysts, the cricketing fraternity appears to be treading cautiously.Farhan’s gesture, coupled with Haris Rauf’s fighter-jet salute earlier in the match, has blurred the line between sport and symbolism. In a rivalry already loaded with political undertones, such theatrics risk turning cricket into a proxy battlefield.Whether the ICC will take action remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: Farhan’s celebration has triggered more than applause—it’s reopened wounds, stirred emotions, and reminded everyone that in India vs Pakistan, every gesture counts.