Is Haris Rauf Playing in PAK vs SA 2nd ODI Match Today? ICC Gives Update on His Suspension

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially imposed sanctions on players from India and Pakistan for their controversial gestures during the heated on-field actions between the two teams in the Asia Cup. Pakistan’s fast bowler, Haris Rauf, received the strictest penalties from the governing body, primarily due to his jet-crashing gestures made in two of the three matches his team played against India during the tournament. However, a report from a Pakistani news outlet has claimed that the demerit points imposed on Rauf were never discussed with him during the hearing process.

Haris was handed a two-match suspension after getting four demerit points for his actions. However, according to a report by a Pakistani news outlet, the pacer was never informed by the match referee that his suspension could be reduced if he admitted to the offence. The report further alleges that the penalty in the form of demerit points was never discussed during Rauf's hearing. Instead, the points were added afterwards without any prior explanation to the fast bowler.

Haris Rauf Suspension: Why Haris Rauf is not Playing Today During PAK vs SA

Haris Rauf is going to miss today's match between Pakistan and South Africa, and his absence is due to a suspension after his involvement in a controversial incident during the Asia Cup. The Pakistani fast bowler, who has been a key player for his team, was banned for two matches after accumulating 4 demerit points for making jet-crashing gestures in two of Pakistan’s three matches against India. These actions were seen as inappropriate and were penalised by the International Cricket Council (ICC) under their code of conduct.

Rauf's suspension means he is unavailable for the second ODI against South Africa. His absence is a direct result of the ICC’s decision, and his on-field behaviour was discussed in the recent ICC meeting. Despite his importance to the Pakistan team, Rauf’s suspension left him sidelined for this important clash.

There have also been claims that Rauf wasn’t fully informed about the penalty during the hearing process and that the demerit points were added without proper notice, raising concerns over the transparency of the ICC's disciplinary procedures. However, for now, Rauf will have to serve his suspension, and he will return to action once the ban is completed.

ICC Gave Demrit Points to Other Players

Suryakumar Yadav, one of the best T20 batsman in the world, was also penalised by the ICC, receiving two demerit points for breaching the same code of conduct. The punishment was due to the remarks he made following India’s victory over Pakistan on September 14. The ICC made an official announcement on November 4, more than five weeks after the Asia Cup had ended. In addition, Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan was issued an official warning and one demerit point for an offence recorded on September 14.

India’s star pacer Jasprit Bumrah was also penalised, picking up a demerit point for a gesture made during the tournament final. Meanwhile, Arshdeep Singh was charged under Article 2.6 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which deals with gestures considered obscene, offensive, or insulting. However, after review, he was cleared of any offence.

These sanctions have been imposed due to heated encounters between the greatest rivalry in cricket, India and Pakistan, during the Asia Cup, where the intensity of the political rivalry took over the field. The tension was so high that Indian players declined to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts after all three matches. Pakistan captain Salman Agha publicly criticised the gesture, saying it went against the spirit of the game, while Suryakumar Yadav responded by saying that “some things are bigger than sportsmanship.”