Asia Cup 2025: Sahibzada Farhan stirs controversy with gun-firing celebration against India | VIDEO

Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan celebrated his half-century in dramatic fashion during the Asia Cup 2025 Super 4 clash against India on Sunday. He smashed a towering six off Axar Patel in the 10th over to bring up his fifty, giving Pakistan early momentum in the innings.

However, Farhan’s celebration soon drew controversy. Turning towards his dugout, he mimicked a firing gun gesture, an act that sparked outrage on social media. The timing of the celebration was particularly sensitive, coming just months after the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 Indian tourists lost their lives at the hands of militants from Pakistan.

The gesture triggered a flood of reactions online, with many calling it disrespectful and distasteful.

Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi also took a swipe on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “Congratulations @BCCI, @HMOIndia @mansukhmandviya.. hope these visuals satisfy you’ll enough and ensure ‘Olympic’ spirit between two nations should be unaffected. This is triggering but not for those busy making money over blood.”

The on-field drama followed tensions carried over from the earlier stages of the tournament. At the toss, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav refused to shake hands with Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha, a continuation of the strained relations between the two teams.

In their previous group-stage clash, India had declined to shake hands with Pakistan’s players, with Yadav even dedicating the victory to victims of the Pahalgam attack and the Indian armed forces.

Despite his aggressive knock, Farhan was eventually dismissed by Shivam Dube after scoring 58 off 45 balls. Dube also took the wicket of opener Saim Ayub, who scored 21 runs. Fakhar Zaman’s dismissal stirred debate after he was caught behind by Sanju Samson off Hardik Pandya’s bowling, a decision that Pakistan contested. Kuldeep Yadav later added to India’s momentum by sending Hussain Talat back to the pavilion.