Rauf Handed Two-Match Ban After Asia Cup Clash

Due to an ICC ban, Haris Rauf was unable to play in Tuesday’s first ODI against South Africa and will not be able to play in the second one either. Due to two distinct infractions that happened during Pakistan’s Asia Cup 2025 game against India, he has accrued four demerit points.

Rauf’s infractions actually happened during the games on September 21 and the final on September 28, despite the ICC’s official website stating that they happened on September 14 and 28.

Article 2.21 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which deals with bringing the game into disrepute, was violated in each case. A player is automatically suspended for two matches after accruing four demerit points in a 24-month period.

Formal hearings were undertaken and punishments were imposed after Rauf refused to accept the charge on both occasions.

Incidents during the three Asia Cup matches between India and Pakistan led to numerous sanctions, including Rauf’s. The same charge also resulted in Suryakumar Yadav, the captain of India, receiving two demerit points for remarks he made during India’s victory over Pakistan on September 14.

The ICC only formally announced the punishments on Tuesday, five weeks after the tournament ended, although ESPNcricinfo had already covered them at the time. For an offense committed on September 21, Sahibzada Farhan was also given a formal warning and a penalty point; nevertheless, the ICC again ascribed it to September 14.

Jasprit Bumrah received one for a gesture he made in the championship match. For his conduct on September 21, Arshdeep Singh was accused of violating Article 2.6, which deals with employing an indecent, offensive, or insulting gesture. In the end, he was found not guilty.

All of the accusations stemmed from three bitter matches between India and Pakistan at the Asia Cup, where political tensions erupted on the pitch. Salman Agha, the captain of Pakistan, accused India of being “not in the spirit of the game” for refusing to shake hands with the Pakistani players throughout any of the three matches. The “few things” that were “bigger than sportsman’s spirit” was the response from Suryakumar.

Due to tensions between the two teams, Pakistan almost withdrew from the tournament after accusing match referee Andy Pycroft of preventing the players from shaking hands—a claim the ICC denied. Prior to the PCB and ICC clearing the air, the standoff caused Pakistan’s match against the UAE to be postponed for more than an hour.

The inaugural Asia Cup final between India and Pakistan marked the conclusion of the competition. In the last over, India emerged victorious in an exciting match. But the drama was far from over. Mohsin Naqvi, the PCB chairman and president of the ACC, insisted on giving the trophy to the Indian players during the presentation ceremony, but they declined. India rejoiced on the podium without the trophy after a long wait. It is understood that the Indian team has yet to receive the prize.

The third match of the three-match ODI series against South Africa, which is presently taking place in Faisalabad, will see Rauf return to action.