By Zainab Shafiq 
When controversies flare up in Indo-Pak cricket clashes, the noise often goes beyond the boundary ropes. The latest chapter saw emotions boiling over in Dubai during the Asia Cup 2025, where disciplinary hearings from the International Cricket Council (ICC) placed players from both sides in the spotlight. Amid this turbulence, Mohsin Naqvi to pay Haris Rauf’s fine became a headline that immediately caught fans’ attention, reflecting a rare move from a cricket board chief.
The ICC’s sanctions weren’t limited to one player. Pakistan’s pacer Haris Rauf was penalized 30 percent of his match fee for responding to jeers from Indian fans with inappropriate gestures. On the same night, his teammate Sahibzada Farhan also drew the ICC’s eye after marking his fifty with a “gunfire celebration.” While Farhan was spared with just a formal warning, Rauf’s punishment stung, until PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi stepped in.
Mohsin Naqvi to pay Haris Rauf’s fine highlights his stance
According to insiders, Naqvi has not only vowed to clear Rauf’s dues but also promised to personally cover any ICC-imposed fines on Pakistani players. The symbolic gesture is being read as a statement of solidarity with his team, particularly during one of the most politically charged cricket tournaments in recent memory. Fans have described it as an “unprecedented show of backing” from the top administrator.
The drama didn’t end there. Across the aisle, Indian T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav also found himself guilty of breaching the code of conduct. His comments following India’s win over Pakistan in the group stage alluded to military conflicts, remarks that Pakistan strongly protested, calling for the highest-level sanction. Though he too was fined 30 percent of his match fee, critics argued that a mere financial penalty downplayed the seriousness of his statements.
Heated rivalry overshadows cricket
The decision of both teams to skip the customary handshake at the toss underscored just how strained relations had become. Analysts noted that when cricket is dragged into the realm of politics, the damage often outlives the tournament. While India clinched their group-stage game comfortably, it was the off-field controversies from Suryakumar’s words to Mohsin Naqvi to pay Haris Rauf’s fine, that dominated headlines.
As the Asia Cup 2025 rolls on, questions linger: are players being fairly treated, or is cricket again becoming a proxy for regional hostilities?
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