NEW DELHI: PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi continues to steal limelight more than Pakistan players as he dropped a bombshell ahead of the high-octane India vs Pakistan Asia Cup final. Naqvi sparked a new controversy with a cryptic post on social media on Saturday.
"How much time do you need to explain the reasons behind the balancing act?" Naqvi, who is also Asian Cricket Council's chief, posted on X. The comment seems to have stirred curiosity, leaving many to wonder about both its intended target and its timing.
The post surfaced against the backdrop of growing tensions between the BCCI and the PCB.
On Friday, India skipper Suryakumar Yadav was docked 30 percent of his match fee for remarks on the Pahalgam terror attack - a penalty the BCCI has since appealed. Pakistan’s Haris Rauf faced a similar sanction under the ICC’s disciplinary code, reflecting the rising tensions between the two rival camps.
Meanwhile, Pakistan batter Sahibzada Farhan was issued an official warning by match referee Richie Richardson for his gunfire-style celebration during last Sunday’s Asia Cup clash against India, following a hearing on Friday.
Pakistan had filed a complaint against Suryakumar after he dedicated his team's win over the arch foes on September 14 to the victims of Pahalgam terror attack and the Indian armed forces.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge during his hearing on Thursday and was apparently told not to make any statement that could be construed as political in the remainder of the tournament.
Rauf, on the other hand, has been penalised for his provocative actions, which included use of "abusive language" and hand gestures to mock the falling of planes during the game on Sunday.
Rauf maintained that there was nothing political about his actions but they were nonetheless deemed "abusive and aggressive" by the match referee.
Farhan, on the other hand, also pleaded not guilty to any code of conduct violation, claiming that the gun-fire celebration that he did after his half century on Sunday is a "traditional way of celebrating in his ethnic Pakhtun tribe".
