Former cricketer-turned-analyst Irfan Pathan has slammed Pakistan’s Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan for their provocative gestures in the Asia Cup 2025 Super 4 clash against India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday (September 21).

Farhan performed a gun-shot celebration after hitting a half-century, and later in the game, Rauf mimicked fighter jets going down while fielding near the boundary ropes.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Pathan said he was not one bit surprised by the gestures and claimed that Pakistani players do far worse behind the scenes.

"I want to talk about the celebrations a little bit. Sahibzada Farhan, you know the tensions between the two sides. Haris Rauf for that matter, I thought that he was a decent bloke. I met him in Australia a few years back. The gestures he made in the field yesterday, they were needless. It tells about both of their nature, and what upbringing they come from," Irfan remarked.

"Play cricket in the field. To stoop down to a personal level is quite bad. And then you expect us to not talk about it, that is wrong. But I am not surprised at all. They are capable of doing these things. What you got to see on TV, that was bad itself, but the things that go on behind the scenes, the fans would be shocked if they get to know about it," he added.

Pakistan pacers tried to get under the skin of Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill by hurling some expletives but their tactics backfired as both Indian openers produced fireworks, adding 105 runs in just 9.5 overs to pave the way for six-wicket victory in the chase of 172.

Irfan Pathan said that Pakistan have a habit of starting fights on the field and then complain about the attitude of the opponent when they give it back.

"As Indians, unless you bother us, we will go on about cricket. We are never the ones to initiate aggression. But it is perhaps wrong to expect that we will not reply back to the things that you start. Not only will we reply with bat, we will reply with words as well. This is something that some former players are unable to digest," Pathan said.

"You know the people who say that say things in front of me. I have dismissed them 10–11 times in international cricket. They were not able to handle me in the field, they will not be able to face me outside the field as well. But I liked what Ashwin said in his YouTube channel, the mudslinging bit. I am telling you, whenever I meet them next, they will not be able to stand in front of me," he concluded.

This was Pakistan’s seventh straight defeat to India, and their second against the arch-rivals in the ongoing Asia Cup.

The Men in Green are now facing a must-win situation in the remaining Super 4 games to stay alive in the Asia Cup 2025. They will take on Sri Lanka in their next match in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday (September 23).