Bumrah sanctioned for unsporting send-off to Haris Rauf; Arshdeep cleared of charges.
NEW DELHI
Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has been handed one demerit point by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for “conduct that brings the game into disrepute” following his airplane-style send-off to Pakistan’s Haris Rauf during the Asia Cup 2025 final.
The ICC confirmed that Bumrah accepted the charge under Article 2.21 of its Code of Conduct and agreed to an official warning, meaning no formal hearing was required. The incident occurred after Bumrah bowled Rauf in the 18th over and mimicked the “plane” gesture that the Pakistani pacer had used earlier in the tournament — a celebration widely criticized for its perceived political undertone.
The disciplinary hearings also addressed other incidents from the high-tension India–Pakistan matches. India captain Suryakumar Yadav was fined 30 percent of his match fee and received two demerit points for remarks deemed detrimental to the spirit of the game. Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan received a warning and one demerit point for his “gun celebration” after scoring a fifty, while Haris Rauf was suspended for two matches and fined twice for repeated breaches of Article 2.21.
Meanwhile, India’s Arshdeep Singh was found not guilty of an alleged breach of Article 2.6, which relates to obscene or offensive gestures. ICC Match Referee Andy Pycroft concluded that Arshdeep’s animated reaction during the Super 4 clash did not violate conduct guidelines.
The ICC’s rulings aim to reinforce the importance of sportsmanship and decorum amid growing intensity in the India–Pakistan rivalry. Both boards have reportedly reminded their players to maintain restraint and uphold the spirit of cricket in future contests.