Rauf also had heated exchanges with Indian openers Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma, as well as Shaheen Afridi.
India defeated Pakistan by six wickets in the Asia Cup 2025 Super 4s in Dubai. But the win was soon overshadowed by Pakistani pacer Haris Rauf’s provocative gestures on the field and a controversial Instagram post by his wife, Muzna Masood Malik. Both incidents have drawn sharp criticism from cricket fans.
During the match, emotions ran high. Haris Rauf added fuel to the fire with his aggressive behaviour. While fielding, he made a gesture that appeared to mimic a crashing plane. He also flashed the “6-0” hand sign — a reference to Pakistan’s unverified claim of shooting down six Indian jets during a past military conflict.
These actions were seen as mocking Indian fans and players. Rauf also had heated exchanges with Indian openers Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma, as well as Shaheen Afridi. Despite the provocation, the Indian team stayed calm and went on to secure an easy victory.
The controversy did not stop with Rauf’s on-field antics. His wife, Muzna Masood Malik, stirred up more outrage with an Instagram Story. She shared a picture of Rauf making the “6-0” gesture and added the caption, “Lost the match but won the battle.”
The post quickly went viral, sparking angry reactions from fans who called it unsporting and divisive. Critics accused her of politicising the game and undermining the spirit of cricket. Although Instagram Stories usually stay live for 24 hours, Muzna reportedly deleted the post after the backlash.
Social media exploded with reactions. Many fans condemned Rauf and his wife for crossing the line of sportsmanship. Some compared Muzna’s deleted post with that of Indian cricketer Shivam Dube’s wife, Anjum Khan, who had shared a positive and graceful message celebrating India’s win.
One fan wrote that Anjum’s post reflected “calm dignity and positivity,” while Muzna’s message was seen as adding fuel to the rivalry.
India’s convincing win over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 Super 4s should have been the headline. Instead, the match was overshadowed by Rauf’s behaviour and Muzna’s post. The incident has raised questions about sportsmanship, fan rivalry, and the responsibilities of public figures associated with players.
