‘6-0 Will Haunt India Till Doomsday,’ Says Khawaja Asif as Haris Rauf’s Gesture Sparks Debate

DUBAI/ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has backed pacer Haris Rauf after his Rafale-downing celebration during the Asia Cup Super Four clash against India triggered outrage among Indian fans. Asif remarked that while cricket matches come and go, “6-0 will haunt India until the Judgement Day,” referring to the Pakistan Air Force’s downing of six Indian fighter jets, including Rafales, during the May military conflict. The comments came as videos of Rauf’s boundary-side gesture went viral on social media, with Pakistani fans praising him and Indian fans mocking him. The politically charged rivalry continues to echo far beyond cricket.

Haris Rauf’s Viral Rafale Gesture

• Haris Rauf made a jet-downing gesture after being booed by Indian spectators during the high-voltage clash in Dubai.
• Pakistani fans hailed the move as a fitting response, while Indian supporters called it provocative.
• The celebration invoked memories of Pakistan Air Force’s dominance in the May 2025 conflict.

Khawaja Asif’s Strong Statement

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif defended the fast bowler:

“Haris Rauf is treating them right. Keep it up. Cricket matches keep happening, but 6/0 will not be forgotten by India until the Judgement Day, and the world will remember it too.”

Politics and Cricket Collide Again

• Tensions escalated after India refused handshakes in both the group-stage and Super Four encounters.
• The Indian team also politicised the tournament by paying tribute to its armed forces after their earlier win.
• Pakistan cricketers, including Sahibzada Farhan with his gun-firing celebration, pushed back with symbolic responses.

Flashpoints in the Match

• Heated exchanges:
  • Shaheen Afridi and Shubman Gill locked eyes after a boundary.
  • Haris Rauf and Abhishek Sharma had a tense on-field interaction.
• Fakhar Zaman’s controversial dismissal further fuelled debate among Pakistani fans and experts.

A Rivalry Beyond Sports

• India and Pakistan only meet at neutral venues in multi-nation tournaments due to political tensions.
• The ongoing Asia Cup Super Four stage also includes Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, with the top two sides progressing to the final on September 28.
• The politically charged cricket rivalry shows no signs of cooling, with every match carrying echoes of the neighbours’ military and diplomatic hostilities.

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