PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has reportedly decided to personally pay the fine imposed on fast bowler Haris Rauf after his on-field altercation during the high-pressure Asia Cup match between Pakistan and India. Rauf was fined 30 percent of his match fee by the ICC for using inappropriate language and gestures during a heated exchange with Indian batters Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill. He was also seen signaling “6-0” towards Indian supporters, a taunt referring to Pakistan’s World Cup record against India, which further sparked debate among fans and experts.
While Rauf faced financial punishment, his teammate Sahibzada Farhan escaped with just a formal warning for his animated celebration in the same game. Reports suggest that Mohsin Naqvi, keen to show solidarity with his team, offered to pay the fine out of his own pocket, describing it as a gesture of support for the players under immense pressure in Indo-Pak encounters.
The move has divided opinion. Supporters of Naqvi’s decision see it as an encouraging step that will boost team morale, while critics argue that fines are intended to hold players accountable and waiving them could set the wrong precedent. Although the PCB has not officially confirmed Naqvi’s intervention, the development has already become a talking point, adding more intensity to cricket’s fiercest rivalry.
