Mohsin Naqvi Covers Haris Rauf’s Fine After Controversial Match

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has stepped in to cover the 30 percent match fee fine imposed on pacer Haris Rauf after an incident during the Asia Cup match against India on September 21. Rauf was penalized for using abusive language towards opponents.

According to reports from Samaa.TV, Naqvi, who is also the head of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and the Interior Minister of Pakistan, appeared for an official hearing in front of match referee Richie Richardson and pleaded “not guilty”. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has yet to issue an official statement about the sanctions imposed on Rauf.

During the heated match, Rauf signaled towards the Indian crowd, referencing Pakistan’s claims from Operation Sindoor, where they asserted to have shot down six Indian fighter jets. He also engaged in a verbal exchange with Indian openers Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill.

Following these events, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) lodged a formal complaint regarding Rauf and Farhan Sahibzada‘s conduct during the match. Farhan also drew attention for a provocative celebration, holding his bat like a gun after scoring a half-century, which came off as particularly insensitive given recent events in Kashmir.

India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav recently received a similar punishment, being fined 30 percent of his match fees for making political statements during the same tournament.

The two teams are set to face each other again in the Asia Cup 2025 final on September 28, with India emerging victorious in both previous encounters in the tournament.