Haris Rauf will sit out the second One-Day International against South Africa in Faisalabad after the ICC finally confirmed a two-match suspension dating back to the Asia Cup. The Pakistan fast bowler has accrued four demerit points – two separate breaches of Article 2.21, “conduct that brings the game into disrepute” – during fixtures against India on 14 and 28 September. Four points inside two years trigger an automatic ban, so Rauf was unavailable for Tuesday’s opener and stays in the stands on Thursday.
He twice contested the charge, forcing formal hearings. Match officials upheld both counts, leaving the 31-year-old with the standard penalty. Pakistan expect him back for the third and final ODI next week.
Rauf is not alone on the rap sheet. India captain Suryakumar Yadav collected two demerit points for post-match remarks on 14 September. Batsman Sahibzada Farhan picked up a warning and one point from the same game, while Jasprit Bumrah received a single point for a gesture during the final. Arshdeep Singh was cited under Article 2.6 – obscene or offensive signals – after the 21 September meeting but was cleared.
The sanctions were widely reported at the time yet only made official by the ICC on Tuesday, more than five weeks after the tournament finished. That delay has not gone unnoticed inside either camp; privately, team managers say the communication could have been tidier.
Asia Cup undercurrent
India and Pakistan played three times over the fortnight, and the mood rarely softened. Political tension seeped onto the outfield, most visibly when India’s players declined the customary post-match handshakes. Pakistan skipper Salman Agha called the snub “not in the spirit of the game”. Suryakumar later countered that a “few things” were “bigger than sportsman’s spirit”.
The disagreement almost escalated into Pakistan’s withdrawal. The PCB believed match referee Andy Pycroft had ordered players to avoid handshakes – a claim the ICC disputed. With feelings running high, Pakistan’s group match against the UAE started more than an hour late while administrators thrashed out a compromise.
Cricket eventually prevailed and produced the first India-Pakistan Asia Cup final. India edged home in the last over, yet even that night finished awkwardly. ACC president – and, awkwardly, PCB chairman – Mohsin Naqvi insisted on presenting the trophy himself; India’s squad declined, waiting offstage until officials relented. They lifted the silverware minus the silverware, and, at the time of writing, the cup is still said to be with tournament organisers.
Impact on South Africa series
For Pakistan, the more immediate concern is replacing Rauf’s eight-over bursts. Mohammad Wasim Jnr covered on Tuesday, and selectors may keep faith unless the surface demands extra pace. Team staff say Rauf has trained hard, though match-fitness after a fortnight’s break is another question.
From India’s point of view, Suryakumar and Bumrah carry their demerit points but avoid suspensions. Four points evaporate 24 months after the first offence, so records matter but do not linger for ever. Still, another misdemeanour would leave the pair halfway towards their own enforced rest.
Perspective
None of the incidents ranks among the most serious cricket has seen, yet the cumulative effect speaks loudly. Umpires and match referees are determined to damp down confrontations early, particularly in fixtures shadowed by wider politics. The code of conduct remains blunt: accumulate points, miss matches. Players know the system even if, in the heat of a derby, they sometimes push the boundaries.
The series in Faisalabad moves on quickly. South Africa lead 1-0, Pakistan need their attack firing, and Rauf is counting the days.
