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Sahibzada Farhan played a fine innings for Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 Super 4s clash against India at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday September 21. The 29-year-old opener, who struggled for form a week earlier, looked determined as he raced to a fluent 58 off 34 balls, giving Pakistan a flying start. His aggressive stroke play kept the Indian bowlers under pressure, and he was easily the standout batter for his side in an otherwise inconsistent innings.
However, instead of his batting brilliance being the central talking point, it was his controversial gun celebration after reaching his half-century that drew global attention.
Sahibzada Farhan’s controversial gun celebration sparks outrage
Upon completing his fifty, Farhan mimicked firing a gun with his bat – a gesture that immediately sparked outrage among Indian fans. Given the sensitive geopolitical climate and recent tensions between India and Pakistan, many interpreted the celebration as being in poor taste.
Critics suggested the act could be mocking the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack, while others believed it was an indirect nod to the Pakistani army’s narrative during recent border activities. Social media was quickly flooded with reactions, with Indian fans condemning the celebration as disrespectful in a high-stakes India vs Pakistan encounter.
Farhan defends his celebration against India
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, ahead of Pakistan’s second Super 4s match against Sri Lanka, Farhan remained defiant when asked about the controversy. He dismissed the criticism, saying he did not care how people interpreted the gesture.
“I don’t care what anyone thinks. That celebration was just a moment – it came suddenly to my mind. Normally, I don’t celebrate much after a fifty, but that day I did. I don’t know how people will take it, but I don’t care. You should always play aggressive cricket, not only against India but against every team,” Farhan explained.
The opener also promised fans that his attacking style and power-hitting, including more sixes, would continue in future matches.
Moving beyond the controversy, Farhan highlighted Pakistan’s key tactical focus ahead of their must-win clash against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi. He admitted that Pakistan had been guilty of losing early wickets in recent matches, which undermined their momentum in the powerplay overs.
“In the last few matches, we were not utilising the powerplays well. We were losing wickets early. It’s important to score runs upfront without giving away wickets. Against India, we managed to score nearly 90 runs in the first 10 overs, which was a big positive. Yes, we collapsed in the middle overs, but we will rectify that,” Farhan said.
The opener stressed the importance of building strong starts to set the platform for Pakistan’s middle order, which has struggled for consistency throughout the Asia Cup.
