Pakistan Cricket Board president Mohsin Naqvi has ignited a firestorm within the Asia Cup 2025 by sharing a video of soccer celebrity Cristiano Ronaldo mimicking a aircraft, echoing the controversial ‘fighter jet downing’ gesture made by Haris Rauf throughout the current India vs Pakistan Tremendous 4 conflict. Naqvi’s actions, posted on X whereas India confronted Bangladesh, have escalated simmering tensions and sparked condemnation throughout each cricketing and political circles.
PCB Chief’s Cristiano Ronaldo submit intensifies Asia Cup row
The controversy started within the high-voltage India and Pakistan Tremendous 4s conflict in Dubai when Pakistan pacer Rauf, taunted by chants of “Kohli, Kohli” from the gang referencing Virat Kohli’s Melbourne heroics in 2022, responded with a provocative gesture—mimicking a fighter jet crashing. He repeated the gesture after dismissing Sanju Samson and signaled “6-0” to the stands, alluding to Pakistan’s disputed claims of downing six Indian jets throughout Operation Sindoor, launched after the Pahalgam terror assault. Rauf’s behaviour got here out after his teammate Sahibzada Farhan, who celebrated his half-century by imitating the act of firing an AK-47, additional enraging audiences given the match’s charged safety backdrop.
Naqvi, each Pakistan Cricket Board chief and Asian Cricket Council president, poured gasoline on this fireplace by sharing a slow-motion clip of Ronaldo, usually explaining his free-kick approach, however on this context edited to resemble the identical controversial aircraft-downing gesture. Naqvi’s submit, notably shared with none caption however extensively interpreted throughout the ongoing row, has been seen as an try to justify the provocative conduct of Pakistani gamers and assert political narratives in a sporting context.
If ICC has any disgrace left, they need to ban Pakistan cricket for two years.
ACC Chairman Mohsin Naqvi overtly mocked India by placing this pic deliberately, that is unacceptable
— Area Recorder (@1spacerecorder) September 24, 2025
Additionally READ: Asia Cup 2025: BCCI lodges grievance in opposition to Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan for controversial gestures throughout IND vs PAK Tremendous 4 conflict
Sportsmanship eclipsed by off-field drama
These gestures, as an alternative of defusing, solely exacerbated bilateral tensions. The Board of Management for Cricket in India (BCCI) formally lodged complaints to match referee Andy Pycroft over the Pakistani gamers’ actions, demanding accountability. The PCB, in flip, protested alleged snubs and handshake drama by Indian gamers, whereas additionally staging symbolic “powerplays” within the media. Regardless of the diplomatic ripple impact, cricket continued with India securing an emphatic win over Pakistan, securing their place within the Asia Cup remaining after an unbeaten run.
Nevertheless, because the matches play out on the sphere, the Asia Cup 2025 is now as a lot about diplomatic sparring and symbolic gestures as it’s about runs, wickets, and trophies. Naqvi’s resolution to invoke Ronaldo’s world superstar in a deeply political method alerts a worrying pattern the place on-field rivalries danger being overshadowed by off-field provocations. The ensuing fallout has reignited debate about athlete conduct, the tasks of sports activities directors, and the skinny line separating cricketing banter from politically-fuelled controversy amidst heightened tensions between neighbouring nations.
Additionally READ: Followers go wild after Abhishek Sharma, Kuldeep Yadav energy India into Asia Cup 2025 remaining with win over Bangladesh as Sri Lanka’s marketing campaign ends
