Tag: Sahibzada Farhan

DUBAI: Pakistan cricketers Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan appeared before ICC match referee Richie Richardson on Friday after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) lodged an official complaint against the duo over their on-field gestures during the Asia Cup 2025 Super Four clash.

According to sources, both players submitted written responses and defended their actions during the hearing. Richardson reportedly questioned them in detail about the incidents.

Sahibzada Farhan rejected the allegation that his half-century celebration carried political undertones.

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The opener had mimicked firing a machine gun with his bat after reaching fifty, a move that drew heavy criticism on social media.

Farhan, however, clarified that his gesture was cultural rather than political.

“In Pashtun traditions, this is how celebrations are done,” he is said to have told the referee.

Haris Rauf, meanwhile, was pressed on the six-finger gesture he made while fielding on the boundary.

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The pacer challenged the claim, asking officials directly, “Tell me, what do you people think this means?”

He further argued in his written response that there was no evidence to back the allegations. Richardson, however, did not comment on Rauf’s counter-question, sources said.

The controversy arose after the BCCI emailed its complaint to the ICC earlier this week, pointing to Farhan’s celebration and Rauf’s actions as “provocative.”

The match in question, played on September 21, saw several heated exchanges between players on both sides, amplifying the tension around the rivalry.

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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has lodged an official complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) against Pakistan cricketers Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan.

Reliable sources indicate that a complaint was filed via email on Wednesday regarding the on-field gestures of Pakistan players during the tense Asia Cup 2025 Super Four match in Dubai.

These incidents have since ignited widespread discussion on social media.

Catch Asia Cup 2025 news updates here!

The September 21 fixture, the second meeting between the arch-rivals in this year’s tournament, saw several heated moments between players on both sides.

Pakistan pacers Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf exchanged words with India’s opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill. However, the BCCI’s complaint specifically names Rauf and Farhan.

Rauf attracted attention while fielding near the boundary as he made gestures that depicted the action of bringing down a plane. This was interpreted as a mockery of India’s military action earlier this year.

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He performed these gestures in response to Indian fans chanting “Kohli, Kohli,” referring to Virat Kohli’s famous sixes off Rauf during the 2022 T20 World Cup in Melbourne.

Farhan, meanwhile, came under scrutiny for his unique half-century celebration, in which he mimicked firing a machine gun with his bat. The gesture was widely criticized as provocative.

If the two Pakistan players deny the allegations in writing, an ICC hearing may be convened to review the matter. The second match referee in the tournament, Richie Richardson, is expected to oversee proceedings.

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DUBAI: Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed and opener Sahibzada Farhan have made notable strides in the latest ICC Men’s T20I rankings after their standout performances in the Asia Cup 2025.

Farhan, currently the second-highest run-scorer of the tournament with 156 runs at an average of 31.20, jumped 31 spots to claim the 24th position with 589 rating points.

Fellow batters Fakhar Zaman and skipper Salman Ali Agha also moved up three places each, to 66th and 64th, respectively.

However, Pakistan’s seasoned duo Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, who are no longer part of the T20I setup, slipped further down the charts. Babar dropped to 35th and Rizwan to 38th.

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Meanwhile, out of form Saim Ayub fell eight places to 55th, Hasan Nawaz dropped to 58th, and wicket-keeper Mohammad Haris inched down to 90th.

At the top, India’s Abhishek Sharma retained his No.1 spot, with England’s Phil Salt second and Tilak Varma overtaking Jos Buttler to move into third.

In the ICC T20I bowling rankings, Abrar Ahmed made the most significant impact, having taken five wickets in the Asia Cup 2025.

He surged 12 places to break into the top five for the first time. He now sits fourth with 703 points, closing in on a potential top-three finish.

Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf also gained ground, climbing to 25th and 28th, respectively. In contrast, Sufiyan Muqeem slipped to 14th, Abbas Afridi dropped to 44th, while Mohammad Nawaz fell to 46th.

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India’s Varun Chakaravarthy continues to lead the T20I bowling charts, followed by New Zealand’s Jacob Duffy and West Indies’ Akeal Hosein.

In the all-rounders’ list, Saim Ayub maintained fifth place with 201 points. Mohammad Nawaz rose to 17th, while Faheem Ashraf jumped 12 places to 39th.

Shaheen Afridi and Salman Ali Agha also made double-digit gains, both tying for 71st. Shadab Khan, however, slipped five places to 35th.

India’s Hardik Pandya remains the top-ranked T20I all-rounder, with Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi second and Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza third.

READ: Sahibzada Farhan joins Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan in elite list

ABU DHABI: Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan has joined star batters Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan in an elite list during the Asia Cup 2025 Super Four clash against Sri Lanka on Tuesday.

Farhan struck 24 off 15 deliveries, laced with two sixes and a four, entering the record books as he became only the fourth batter from the country to score 1,500 T20 runs in a calendar year.

He reached the landmark in his 35th innings of the year.

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Prior to Farhan, only Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shan Masood had crossed the 1,500-run barrier in a calendar year.

Babar has done it thrice (2019, 2021, 2024), Rizwan achieved it in back-to-back years (2021 and 2022), while Shan managed the feat in 2022.

Farhan’s tally in 2025 has been accumulated through his performances for Pakistan, Peshawar Region, and Islamabad United, underlining his consistency across formats and tournaments.

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The 29-year-old also made headlines earlier on Sunday with a striking celebration after notching up a half-century against India.

He reached the landmark by launching Axar Patel for a six and marked the moment by mimicking his bat “firing runs like bullets,” a gesture that quickly went viral among fans.

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Former captain Rashid Latif has urged Pakistan to make a few changes to their playing XI for the must-win Super Four clash against Sri Lanka in the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025.

Both sides head into the contest under pressure after opening-round defeats. Pakistan suffered a crushing loss to arch-rivals India, while Sri Lanka were undone by a spirited Bangladesh side.

Latif, writing on his official Facebook account, proposed a new-look batting order that sees wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Haris and youngster Hassan Nawaz opening the innings.

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This reshuffle pushes Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub down to three and four, with Sahibzada Farhan, Pakistan’s leading run-scorer in the tournament, dropped from the XI.

Farhan has scored 132 runs in four games, making him the team’s highest run-getter and third overall in the competition.

However, his modest strike rate of 101.53 has drawn criticism, and Rashid Latif believes Pakistan cannot afford a slow start in a do-or-die fixture.

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For the middle order, Latif suggested Hussain Talat at five and captain Salman Ali Agha at six, followed by Mohammad Nawaz at seven. All-rounder Faheem Ashraf was omitted.

The bowling unit, according to Latif’s plan, would feature Shaheen Afridi at eight, spinners Sufiyan Muqeem and Abrar Ahmed at nine and ten, and Haris Rauf as the spearhead at eleven, offering Pakistan a mix of pace and spin options.

Rashid Latif’s Playing XI for Sri Lanka clash

Mohammad Haris (wk), Hassan Nawaz, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Hussain Talat, Salman Ali Agha (c), Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Abrar Ahmed, and Haris Rauf.

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DUBAI: Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan on Sunday broke India’s Abhishek Sharma’s record during the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 Super Fours clash at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Sahibzada top-scored for Pakistan with a 58 off 45 balls. He struck three sixes and five fours in his impressive knock.

In doing so, he surpassed Abhishek Sharma’s tally for the most T20 sixes in a calendar year. The right-hander now has 88 sixes to his name — the most by an Asian batter in a single year.

Most T20 Sixes Hit in a Calendar Year by an Asian Batter

88 – Sahibzada Farhan (Pakistan) in 2025 (34 inns)*

87 – Abhishek Sharma (India) in 2024 (38 inns)

85 – Suryakumar Yadav (India) in 2022 (41 inns)

82 – Mohammad Waseem (UAE) in 2024 (45 inns)

81 – Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Afghanistan) in 2024 (52 inns)

Overall, Sahibzada Farhan sits fourth on the global list of six-hitters in 2025.

Most T20 Sixes in 2025 

103 sixes – Nicholas Pooran (West Indies)  49 inns

99 sixes – Karanbir Singh (Austria)  28 inns

88 sixes – Dewald Brevis 32 inns

88 sixes – Sahibzada Farhan 34 inns

Despite Sahibzada Farhan’s record-breaking, India cruised to a comprehensive six-wicket victory, courtesy of Abhishek Sharma’s sublime knock.

He added 105 for the opening wicket with Shubman Gill in just 59 balls, leaving Pakistan bowlers deflated.

The left-hander went on to smash 74 off just 39 balls, studded with five towering sixes and six boundaries. For his outstanding knock, the southpaw was named player of the match.

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DUBAI: Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan celebrated his maiden half-century against India in a unique style during the Super Four match of the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Farhan reached his half-century in dominant fashion, smashing a six off Axar Patel on the third delivery of the 10th over. After reaching the milestone, he celebrated uniquely, mimicking his bat “firing runs like bullets”.

The right-handed batter’s innings included five boundaries and three sixes, showcasing an aggressive and confident approach against India’s bowling attack.

Despite his knock, India defeated Pakistan by six wickets for the second time in a week in the continental tournament.

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Farhan top-scored with 58 from 45 balls with the help of five fours and three sixes, which helped Pakistan reach 171 on the board in their 20 overs.

For India, it was Abhishek Sharma’s ruthless knock that steered them to a commanding victory despite their sloppiness in the field during Pakistan’s innings.

After dropping the catches in the field, Abhishek went to score a sublime 74 from 39 balls, laced with five effortless sixes and half a dozen fours.

India eventually chased down the target on the last ball of the 19th over with Tilak Varma scoring 30 off 19 alongside Haridk Pandya, who made seven.

For Pakistan, Haris Rauf picked up two wickets while Faheem Ashraf and Abrar Ahmed managed to scalp one apiece.

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Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja has praised Sahibzada Farhan after his match-winning knock in the third T20I against Bangladesh, but expressed disappointment over the national team’s overall body language.

Pakistan achieved a consolation victory in the third match after Bangladesh won the series 2-0 by claiming victories in the first two games.

Farhan, included in the line-up for the third T20I, took advantage of this opportunity by scoring 63 runs off 41 balls, with six fours and five sixes, leading Pakistan to a total of 178-7.

The Green Shirts successfully defended the score with disciplined bowling, as they bowled Bangladesh out for 104 runs in 16.4 overs.

After Pakistan’s victory, Ramiz Raja praised Farhan for delivering a remarkable innings under pressure that contributed to the team’s success.

“Sahibzada Farhan played an outstanding innings. He showed fearlessness and a positive mindset throughout,” Ramiz said while speaking on his YouTube channel.

“The reason he was able to perform this way was because he was not burdened by the fear of failure.”

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The former PCB chairman said Farhan’s confident approach should serve as an example for other players in the squad.

“Farhan stabilised the innings and proved that even after sitting out two matches, one can come in and deliver if the mindset is right. His body language was strong, and he looked assured from the start,” he said.

However, Ramiz Raja didn’t hold back from highlighting the team’s lacklustre attitude on the field, noting that apart from a few players, the team looked visibly under pressure.

“Apart from Sahibzada Farhan, Hasan Nawaz, and Mohammad Nawaz, the rest of the players looked nervous. Their body language didn’t reflect confidence or control,” he noted.

He also had a word of advice for Mohammad Haris, questioning his technique and approach at the crucial No. 3 position.

“Haris seems to be in a rush. He tries to hit every ball and appears unsettled at the crease. If he wants to succeed at No. 3, he must improve his shot selection and composure. I’ve personally told him this before,” Ramiz concluded.

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Pakistan Test cricketer Ahmed Shehzad highly praised returning opener Sahibzada Farhan for his blistering 74-run knock in the second T20I against Bangladesh.

The right-hander made his T20I debut back in 2018 but featured in only two more matches that year before being sidelined.

His next chance came over five years later, during the Australia tour in January 2024 under Shaheen Shah Afridi’s captaincy.

But Sahibzada Farhan couldn’t leave a mark in that series — scores of 1 and 19 in two games saw him dropped yet again. He returned to the side during the tours of Australia later that year, but failed to leave a lasting impression.

However, he kept piling on runs in domestic cricket and finished as the top-scorer in the recently concluded Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 10.

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On Friday, Farhan finally got another opportunity, replacing the unfit Fakhar Zaman, and made it count in style.

Opening the innings, he smashed 74 off just 41 balls, hitting ten boundaries, including six sixes, to set the tone for Pakistan’s commanding total of 201-6 at Gaddafi Stadium.

It was his first T20I in six months and his maiden fifty in Pakistan colours, a knock that not only helped his side seal the series but also reignited hopes of a long-term future in the green shirt.

Following the match, Ahmed Shehzad took to his official X (formerly Twitter) account to heap praise on the 29-year-old batter.

“So happy to [see] Sahibzada Farhan getting the opportunity for Pakistan [and] he making it count,” Shehzad posted. “Fantastic start for him. What an inning. What a player. Sky is the limit.”

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LAHORE: Sahibzada Farhan made a memorable return to international cricket on Wednesday night, playing a blistering knock that helped Pakistan seal the T20I series against Bangladesh here at Gaddafi Stadium.

The 29-year-old opener, who replaced an unfit Fakhar Zaman in the playing XI for the second T20I, smashed 74 off just 41 balls, laced with 10 boundaries — including six towering sixes.

His fearless approach at the top set the tone for Pakistan’s dominant total of 201-6, eventually leading to a comprehensive 57-run victory.

After receiving his first-ever Player of the Match award in Pakistan colours, an emotional Sahibzada spoke candidly about his journey.

“This is an incredibly emotional moment for me – making my national team comeback and earning my first Player of the Match award for Pakistan. I couldn’t be happier,” he said at the post-match presentation.

Sahibzada Farhan, who has been in and out of the national setup for years despite consistently topping domestic charts, credited his mental growth and domestic grind for this performance.

“I believe I’ve ticked most of the boxes. My domestic cricket experience before franchise cricket taught me the standards required to succeed internationally. This is just the beginning – I’ll keep pushing to improve and work even harder,” he added.

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Having missed out on recent tours to South Africa and New Zealand, this was yet another comeback for the right-hander, and he was determined to make it count.

“Fear doesn’t hold me back anymore. This is my third or fourth comeback, and every year I pile up domestic runs to earn my recall. Today, you all witnessed that I play without the fear of failure,” he asserted.

“I stuck to what worked in franchise cricket – staying confident and ready to prove my worth when the opportunity came.”

While Sahibzada Farhan stole the headlines, youngster Hasan Nawaz also impressed with an unbeaten 51 off 26 balls, providing the finishing touches with two fours and three sixes.

In the second half, Pakistan’s bowlers got the job done efficiently. Abrar Ahmed starred with the ball, picking 3-19 in his four overs, as Bangladesh folded for 144 in 19 overs.

With this win, Pakistan have taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match T20I series. The third and final match will be played on June 1 at the same venue.

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