During the high-stakes Asia Cup 2025 Super Four match between India and Pakistan in Dubai, Pakistan's opening batter Sahibzada Farhan ignited a social media storm with his 'gun-firing' celebration after reaching his half-century. Farhan, known for his aggressive batting style, reached the milestone with a massive six off Axar Patel. He then mimicked firing a gun with his bat, drawing mixed reactions from fans and commentators.
The incident occurred during Pakistan's innings in the Super Four match. Farhan's aggressive approach helped Pakistan recover from the early dismissal of Fakhar Zaman. He formed a partnership with Saim Ayub, contributing to a strong start for Pakistan. Farhan eventually scored 58 runs off 45 balls, including five fours and three sixes. His celebration, however, quickly overshadowed his impressive batting performance.
The "gun-firing" celebration immediately went viral, sparking debate across social media platforms. Some fans viewed it as a display of passion and flair, while others criticized the gesture, considering the sensitive political backdrop of India-Pakistan matches. Concerns were raised about the appropriateness of the celebration, with some fearing potential repercussions for the cricketer.
This is not the first instance of tension between the two teams during the Asia Cup 2025. Earlier, Suryakumar Yadav dedicated India's victory in the group stage to the Indian Armed Forces, which stirred controversy in Pakistan. With the history of heated rivalry and occasional off-field incidents, Farhan's celebration added another layer of complexity to the India-Pakistan encounter.
While Farhan's celebration has become a talking point, his performance on the field was noteworthy. He received two lifelines during his innings, with Abhishek Sharma dropping him twice. Farhan's innings helped Pakistan reach a total of 171/5 in their allotted 20 overs. However, India's fielding mistakes also contributed to Pakistan's score, with other players dropping catches as well.
The match saw other instances of controversy, including a debated caught-behind decision against Fakhar Zaman. Additionally, Suryakumar Yadav again refrained from shaking hands with Pakistan's captain Salman Agha, continuing a trend from their previous encounter. Ultimately, Shivam Dube dismissed Farhan in the 15th over, ending his innings. Dube proved to be India's most effective bowler, taking two crucial wickets.