Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan has stood by his controversial ‘gun-fire’ celebration during the 2025 Asia Cup Super Four clash against India, insisting it was a spontaneous moment and not aimed at provoking anyone. Farhan, who scored a crucial 58 off 45 balls—the only half-century of Pakistan’s innings—helped his side post a competitive 171/5 in 20 overs. After reaching his half-century, he mimicked holding an assault rifle, firing imaginary shots into the air while looking toward the Pakistani dressing room.
Though celebrations of this kind might be seen as playful or dramatic in other contexts, this particular gesture drew criticism due to the match’s sensitive backdrop. India’s team and fans were playing with the memory of the Pahalgam terror attack victims in mind, which made Farhan’s display appear provocative to some.
Speaking after the match, Sahibzada Farhan defended his action. “That celebration was just a moment at that time. I don’t usually celebrate after scoring a fifty, but today it came to my mind, so I did it. I don’t know how people will take it, and honestly, I don’t care. You should play aggressive cricket wherever you play. It’s not about India—it’s about playing your game and being fearless,” he said.
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Looking ahead, Pakistan now face must-win games against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh to have a shot at the final. The upcoming match against Sri Lanka is scheduled for Tuesday. Farhan emphasized the importance of making the most of power plays, something that has been lacking in previous games.
“I don’t care about that” 🤷♀️
🇵🇰Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan unbothered by what people are saying about his controversial ⚡️AK-47 celebration in #AsiaCup against India 🇮🇳
FULL VIDEO: https://t.co/obzqNnbaRC pic.twitter.com/p2R6imPdz6
— TOI Sports (@toisports) September 22, 2025
“In the last few matches, we were giving away early wickets and not utilising the powerplays properly. Today, we played positively and scored over 90 runs in the first ten overs. Yes, we collapsed in the middle, but we’ll work on that. If we continue to improve our powerplay performance, we can put ourselves in a strong position in the remaining games,” Sahibzada Farhan concluded.
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Despite the controversy, Farhan remains focused on Pakistan’s campaign, prioritising team performance over fan reactions, and emphasising that aggressive, fearless cricket is key to success in high-pressure matches.
