Asia Cup: After Haris Rauf; PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi gets into jet-downing controversy

The Asia Cup has erstwhile again go a signifier for governmental posturing alternatively than cricket. Pakistan Cricket Board president Mohsin Naqvi has sparked outrage aft posting a video of Cristiano Ronaldo making a fighter-jet gesture. The enactment is being seen arsenic a deliberate provocation and an effort to legitimise behaviour that has already drawn dense criticism.

This comes connected the heels of Haris Rauf’s arguable ‘6-0’ and fighter-jet motion during the Super Four clash against India successful Dubai. Rauf’s actions, aimed astatine Indian fans chanting “Kohli, Kohli,” were slammed crossed societal media arsenic cheap, classless, and unbecoming of an planetary cricketer. Adding to the embarrassment, Sahibzada Farhan mimicked firing a weapon with his bat, showing however rapidly

Pakistan

’s players turned a sporting contention into a theatre of governmental provocation. Instead of calming matters, Naqvi has lone worsened the situation. A committee president utilizing Ronaldo’s representation to backmost specified behaviour has shocked fans, who expect administrators to emergence supra pettiness. Pakistan cricket, alternatively of focusing connected its on-field struggles, is hiding down provocative symbolism that damages the tone of the game. While Pakistan wrestles with controversy, India person done their talking connected the pitch.

Abhishek Sharma

’s sparkling 75 acceptable up a beardown total, and

Kuldeep Yadav

alongside Varun Chakravarthy dismantled Bangladesh to seal a 41-run triumph connected Tuesday. With this result, India stormed into the Asia Cup final, knocking retired Sri Lanka and leaving Pakistan to conflict Bangladesh successful a virtual semifinal for the remaining spot. Naqvi’s actions, however, person ensured that Pakistan’s cricket remains successful the headlines for the incorrect reasons.