THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT UK
Bal Ram Sampla
Geopolitics
Cricket is supposed to be a sport that brings people together. It’s about skill, teamwork, and fair play. But lately, Pakistan’s cricket team and their board chairman Mohsin Naqvi seem to be turning every match into a political battlefield. The problem is Mohsin Naqvi Is also a Interior Minister and is milking the current situation to his advantage.
Recent matches have shown us troubling signs. When Sahibzada Farhan celebrated his fifty with an AK-47 gun gesture, it wasn’t just poor sportsmanship – it was bringing violence into a peaceful game. His excuse? “Heat of the moment” and “other players do it too.” This kind of thinking shows how normal it has become to use cricket as a stage for inappropriate behaviour.
Meanwhile, Haris Rauf was fined 30% of his match fee for aggressive on-field behaviour and misconduct during the same match. So Pakistan had multiple players acting inappropriately in one game – one making gun gestures, another showing aggressive behaviour that warranted a fine.
At the same time, Pakistan’s cricket board filed complaints against Indian players for dedicating wins to terror attack victims. While Suryakumar Yadav got fined 30% of his match fee, Farhan only received a warning for his gun celebration. This shows the double standards that exist – Pakistan players get fines for aggressive behaviour but lighter punishment for weapon gestures.
Why This Hurts Cricket
Cricket matches between India and Pakistan are already tense because of the countries’ history. But when players and officials make it worse with political gestures and complaints, several bad things happen:
(1)Young fans learn that winning at any cost is acceptable
(2)The actual game gets less attention than the drama
(3)International cricket bodies like the ICC have to waste time on political disputes
(4)The beautiful sport of cricket gets a bad reputation
The Bigger Picture
Cricket has always had the power to unite people across borders. When Pakistan and India play, millions watch not for politics but for great cricket. They want to see fast bowling, clever batting, and brilliant fielding.
But when every match becomes about who said what or who made which gesture, the sport suffers. Children watching these games don’t learn about cricket skills – they learn about creating controversy.
What Needs to Change
Pakistan’s cricket establishment needs to make a choice. Do they want to be known for producing great cricketers or for creating political drama?
The solution is simple:
(1) Players should focus on their game, not on making statements
(2) The PCB should promote sportsmanship over controversy
(3) Cricket boards should handle disputes privately, not through public complaints
(4) Leaders like Mohsin Naqvi should set better examples
Conclusion
Cricket is too beautiful a game to be ruined by politics. Pakistan has produced some of the world’s greatest cricketers – from Imran Khan to Wasim Akram to Babar Azam. These players are remembered for their skills, not for their political gestures.
It’s time for Pakistan’s current players and officials to remember that they are custodians of this great sport. Their job is to play cricket well and inspire the next generation to love the game. Politics has many other places to be discussed – the cricket field should not be one of them.
The fans deserve better. Cricket deserves better. And Pakistan cricket can be better if it chooses sport over politics.
References
1. https://www.thedailyjagran.com/cricket/asia-cup-2025-haris-rauf-fined-warning-for-sahibzada-farhan-as-icc-tightens-noose-on-pak-players-for-provocative-actions-10269803
2.https://cricketaddictor.com/cricket-news/shocking-icc-punishes-suryakumar-yadav-over-pahalgam-remarks-haris-rauf-sahibzada-farhan-brutally-sanctioned-231814/
3.https://www.businesstoday.in/sports/story/ahead-of-asia-cup-final-icc-urges-suryakumar-yadav-to-avoid-making-political-statements-sources-495836-2025-09-26
