IND Vs PAK, Asia Cup 2025: Did Sahibzada Farhan Mock India? 'Gunshot' Celebration After Fifty Sparks Reactions

Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan came up with a flamboyant 'gunshot' celebration after completing his half–century in the Asia Cup 2025 Super 4 clash against Team India at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday. September 21. Pakistan were put to bat first by Team India skipper Suryakumar Yadav.

Openers Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman were hoping to build a good partnership after the latter gave Pakistan a quick start to their innings. However, Zaman had an early end to his innings as he was dismissed for 15 off 9 balls by Hardik Pandya at 21/1. Thereafter, Sahibzada was joined by Saim Ayub at the crease to carry on Pakistan's batting.

After Fakhar Zaman's dismissal, Sahibzada Farhan anchored Pakistan's innings and kept the scoreboard ticking amid India's early breakthrough in the high-stakes Super 4 clash in Dubai.

Sahibzada Farhan's Fifty and Gunshot Celebration

Sahibzada Farhan returned to his form after a five-run dismissal in Pakistan's final group stage match against the hosts, UAE. The right-handed batter not only anchored the innings but also formed a 72-run stand for the second wicket with Saim Ayub (21 off 17 balls). After Ayub's dismissal, the onus was on Farhan to stabilize Pakistan's innings, accelerate the scoring rate, and keep the team in contention against a strong Indian bowling attack.

In the 10th over of Pakistan's batting, Sahibzada hit a six off Axar Patel's delivery to bring up his fourth fifty of his T20I career. Though the right-handed batter registered his first fifty of the ongoing Asia Cup 2025, what caught the attention of the fans and spectators was his 'gunshot' celebration.

After completing his fifty, Pakistan opener celebrated by mimicking a gunshot gesture with his bat, and the act is widely called 'AK 47' salute.

Brilliant Fifty from Sahibzada Farhan against India on this big stage #PakvsInd twitter/3o9m6MM2E3

- Sadii (@Sadiaali56) September 21, 2025

Sahibzada Farhan played a brilliant innings of 58 off 45 balls before Shivam Dube gave Team India a big breakthrough by dismissing him at 115/4, ending Pakistan's innings' momentum and leaving the team in a tricky situation in the middle overs.

Sahibzada's celebration sparks debate

Sahibzada Farhan's gunshot celebration or AK-47 salute sparked an intense debate on social media, especially among Indian cricket fans, who viewed it as a mockery of Team India, linking it to the earlier handshake controversy and Pahalgam terror attack victims.

Taking to their X handles (formerly Twitter), fans express outrage and debate the appropriateness of the gesture, as they believe it was insensitive and provocative, especially given the intensity of the match after the earlier controversies surrounding the India-Pakistan clash, including the handshake row and heightened political tensions.

#INDvPAK #PAKvIND This is how sahibzada farhan celebrated his half century, signifying his bat as Ak 47 and pointing it towards Indian Dug out ji if this is not an act of war, what is ?Stop this match and attack pakistan asap or else twitter/9aHtttohMA

- Jitesh (@Chaotic_mind99) September 21, 2025

Sahibzada Farhan showing how his brothers killed innocent tourists in Pahalgam through his half century celebration on BCCI and Modi Gov for allowing Cricket match with a country like this and giving them a platform to do this #INDvPAK twitter/Obpymv0Rnn

- Roshan Rai (@RoshanKrRaii) September 21, 2025

Sahibzada Farhan's fifty celebrationHow much more mockery our Army will u allow?? @JayShah ?Shame #INDvPAK twitter/FLrbNbjOPw

- Avishek Goyal (@AG_knocks) September 21, 2025

Sahibzada Farhan made a gun shooting gesture after completing his fifty looked as if he was saying,“We carried out the Pahalgam attack on India, yet India is still playing cricket with us we do it again, they will still play with us.”He was demeaning the Indian crowd... twitter/5oa0cn3jaL

- Dr Nimo Yadav 2.0 (@DrNimoYadav) September 21, 2025

Sahibzada Farhan is enacting how Pakistani terrorists killed our innocent Hindus in Pahalgam attackBCCI team is playing match with Terrorists on @BCCI #INDvPAK #AsiaCup2025 twitter/frsGoCsEpI

- Lakshay Mehta (@lakshaymehta31) September 21, 2025

Sahibzada Farhan just proved on the field how Pakistani terrorists slaughtered 26 innocents in Pahalgam-gunning them down like it was nothing his fifty and gripped the bat like an AK-47, firing boundaries!This spit in the face of BCCI & Modi govt is peak humiliation.... twitter/ojOxocKJfU

- Sanjay Raut (@rautsanjay61) September 21, 2025

Sahibzada Farhan is showing how his brothers killed our people in Pahalgam.. I ask the government: if it were your own people who were killed, would you have allowed a match against Pakistan?. I ask the BCCI: if it were your own people who were killed, would you have... twitter/uaSAPK4rKP

- The Cinéprism (@TheCineprism) September 21, 2025

This is how Pakistan players celebrating in front of our Indian players & Fans#SahibzadaFarhan is showing how his brothers killed our people in Pahalgam are we even playing this match? ‍ #INDvPAK #HardikPandya #SuryakumarYadav twitter/gj7nachxFf

- Pan India Review (@PanIndiaReview) September 21, 2025

See what Sahibzada Farhan is portraying !!!!This isn't sport, it's the reality of a terror twitter/jd7JYQtGQe

- Hinduism_and_Science (@Hinduism_sci) September 21, 2025

Meanwhile, Pakistan posted a total of 171/5 in 20 overs and set a 172-run target for Team India to chase in the second round of their clash in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025. Apart from Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Nawaz (21), Faheem Ashraf (20*), and Salman Ali Agha (17) made vital contributions in the middle order to keep Pakistan competitive and post a challenging total for the Men in Blue to chase.

For India, Shivam Dube led the bowling attack with figures of 2/33 at an economy rate of 8.20 in 8.20 in four overs. Hardik Pandya (1/29) and Varun Chakravarthy (1/31) picked a wicket each.

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