Rauf, Farhan plead not guilty in ICC hearing but sanctions likely

Pakistan cricketers Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan pleaded not guilty during their ICC hearing for allegedly provocative actions in the Asia Cup game against India here on Friday but sanctions are likely for some of their gestures, according to tournament sources.

It is learnt that Rauf is set to be fined for "abusive language and aggressive gestures" during the game against India last Sunday.

Farhan, on the other hand, has pleaded not guilty to any code of conduct violation for his gun-fire celebration during the same match, claiming that it is a "traditional way of celebrating in his ethnic Pakhtun tribe" in Pakistan.

The hearing was conducted by match referee Richie Richardson at the Pakistan team hotel here. Both the players appeared before him in person even though the responses given by them were in writing. They were accompanied by team manager Naveed Akram Cheema.

"They are likely to be fined and given demerit points but there will be no match ban on either of the two," a tournament source told PTI.

The two were accused of making provocative gestures by the BCCI in a formal complaint on Wednesday. The bitter neighbours are due to clash in the final of the regional showpiece on Sunday.

While Rauf had mocked the Indian fans in the stands by gesturing about falling planes, Farhan's celebration after his half century in the game was also seen as offensive by the Indian side.

Pakistan, too, had filed a complaint against India captain Suryakumar Yadav for making political comments after he dedicated his team's win over the arch foes on September 14 to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and the Indian Armed Forces.

Suryakumar pleaded not guilty to the charge but was apparently told not to make any statement that could be construed as political in the remainder of the tournament.

The ICC is yet to come out with an official statement on the matter.

Tensions between the two sides have been running high starting with India's refusal to do a traditional handshake with Pakistani players at the time of toss and after the games as a gesture of solidarity with the Pahalgam victims.