Asia Cup 2025: "Everyone has the right to express…"- Shaheen Afridi breaks silence on Haris Rauf's 'airplane-crash' gestures during India vs Pakistan Super Four clash

Shaheen Afridi said that the team’s focus should be on playing good cricket.

Pakistan Cricket Team pacer Shaheen Afridi has opened up on teammates Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan’s controversial gestures during the Super Four clash against Indian Cricket Team in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025 on Sunday, September 21. Afridi said that everyone has the right to express themselves, but the team’s focus should be on playing good cricket.

During the encounter, Pakistan opener Farhan celebrated his half-century with a gun gesture. He held his bat like a gun and fired fictional shots in the air. On the other hand, Rauf was seen doing ‘airplane-crash’ and ‘6-0’ gestures near the boundary ropes, mocking a section of the Indian crowd, who teased him with ‘Kohli, Kohli’ chants.

With his gestures, Rauf hinted towards the Pakistan Army’s claims of downing six Indian Rafale jets during Operation Sindoor in May, when both countries engaged in military battle near the North-Western regions. Their videos of Pakistan players went viral on social media, and many cricket fans criticised them for their immature behaviour on the field.

Shaheen Afridi responds to Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan’s gestures during India vs Pakistan clash

While speaking to reporters ahead of Pakistan’s clash against Bangladesh in Asia Cup 2025, Afridi said that everyone has the right to express themselves. However, the focus should be on playing cricket.

“Look, our job is to play cricket. Honestly, everyone has the right to express the way they want to. Everyone has their own thoughts. Everyone has their own respect. Everyone thinks the way they think,” he said.

“But our job is to play cricket. And we have come to win the tri-nation Series. We have come to win the Asia Cup. And we, God willing, as a team, are doing our best,” he added.

Pakistan have faced two defeats against India in the tournament. However, Afridi said that his team is ready to take on India if both sides clash in the final.

“They have not reached the final yet. We will see when they reach the final. We have come here to win the final and win the Asia Cup. We are ready for any team that comes. We will defeat them,” he further said.

Meanwhile, after losing the opening game of Super Four round against India by six wickets, Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by five wickets on Tuesday, September 23. With the victory, they have kept their chances alive of reaching the Asia Cup 2025 final. They will now face Bangladesh in their next clash on September 25 in Dubai.

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