Harish Rauf’s ‘0-6’ Gesture Sparks Storm in India, BJP Responds

Dubai — Pakistani fast bowler Haris Rauf’s “0-6” hand gesture during the Asia Cup T20 Super Four clash against India has stirred controversy across the border, with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also weighing in.

While fielding near the boundary, Rauf was seen making the “0-6” sign and motioning an aircraft crashing, reportedly in response to chants from Indian spectators. The gesture referenced Pakistan Air Force’s claim of shooting down six Indian jets in the May “Battle of Haq.”

The move set social media ablaze, with many Indian fans and former cricketers expressing outrage. On its official account on X, the BJP shared the clip of Rauf, mocking the Pakistani pacer.

In Pakistan, however, the gesture drew praise. Defense Minister Khawaja Asif took to X, posting in Punjabi: “Haris Rauf theek takkar ya… kam chak ke rakh.” He added that while cricket matches come and go, India would “never forget 6/0 till the end of times, and the world will remember it too.”

The controversy reflects how cricketing moments often spill over into political symbolism between the two rivals, intensifying emotions both on and off the field.