Rauf banned for two games; Suryakumar and Bumrah also penalised after Asia Cup incident

Rauf banned for two games; Suryakumar and Bumrah also penalised after Asia Cup incident

Haris Rauf missed the first ODI against South Africa and will also miss the second one due to a two-match ban from the ICC. He received four demerit points for two separate incidents during Pakistan’s matches against India in the Asia Cup 2025.

Although the ICC listed the dates as September 14 and 28, the actual incidents happened on September 21 and during the final on September 28. Both times, Rauf was charged under Article 2.21 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which deals with actions that harm the reputation of the game. Since Rauf didn’t accept the charges, formal hearings were held, and the punishment was confirmed. Accumulating four demerit points within two years automatically leads to a two-match suspension.

Rauf wasn’t the only one punished. India captain Suryakumar Yadav got two demerit points for comments made after India’s win over Pakistan on September 14. Jasprit Bumrah received one point for a gesture during the final. Sahibzada Farhan was given a warning and one demerit point for an incident on September 21, although the ICC mistakenly listed it as September 14.

Arshdeep Singh was charged under Article 2.6 for making an offensive gesture on September 21, but he was later found not guilty.

The three India-Pakistan matches in the Asia Cup were heated, with political tensions affecting the atmosphere. India refused to shake hands with Pakistan players after each game, which Pakistan captain Salman Agha criticised. Suryakumar Yadav responded by saying some things were “bigger than sportsmanship.”

At one point, Pakistan considered pulling out of the tournament, blaming match referee Andy Pycroft for stopping the handshake. The ICC denied this version of events. The disagreement delayed Pakistan’s match against the UAE by over an hour before things were resolved.

India and Pakistan met in the Asia Cup final for the first time ever, with India winning in the last over. But the drama didn’t end there. During the trophy presentation, India’s players refused to accept the trophy from ACC president and PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi. After a long delay, India celebrated without the trophy, which reportedly still hasn’t been handed over to them.

Haris Rauf will be available for the third and final ODI against South Africa, which is currently being played in Faisalabad.