Pakistani cricketer Sahibzada Farhan is at the center of a new controversy following the unveiling of a "GunMode" bat sticker, a design inspired by his contentious celebration during a Super Four match against India in the recent Asia Cup 2025. The sticker, revealed shortly after Pakistan's loss in the Asia Cup final, is a direct reference to Farhan's on-field gesture where he mimicked firing a gun after hitting a six off Axar Patel.
The original celebration, which involved Farhan using his bat to imitate firing an AK-47 assault rifle, occurred after he reached a half-century against India in Dubai. The gesture sparked immediate backlash from fans and former players, with many deeming it unsportsmanlike and inappropriate. Critics argued that such theatrics detracted from the essence of the game and could set a controversial precedent. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) reportedly lodged a complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding the incident.
Following the incident, the ICC reprimanded Farhan for breaching the Code of Conduct. Despite the reprimand, Farhan seems to have embraced the controversy, as evidenced by the "GunMode" sticker. In a video that has since been deleted after the public outcry, Farhan expressed his intention to use the sticker in future matches, signaling that he plans to continue with his expressive displays.
The "GunMode" sticker has reignited the debate surrounding sportsmanship and the appropriateness of flamboyant gestures in international cricket. While some appreciate Farhan's aggressive and expressive style, others believe that such actions cross the line and tarnish the spirit of the game. Some observers have noted the gesture was viewed as particularly insensitive given it occurred after a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir.
Farhan's actions have put the focus on the balance between personal expression and maintaining decorum in sports. While he refrained from repeating the "gun" gesture after reaching fifty in the Asia Cup final, opting instead to simply raise his bat, the unveiling of the "GunMode" sticker suggests that he intends to continue pushing the boundaries of acceptable on-field behavior.
Despite the controversies, Farhan was the third-highest run-scorer in the Asia Cup 2025, accumulating 217 runs in seven matches with an average of 31, including two half-centuries. He was also felicitated upon his return to his hometown of Charsadda. In the Asia Cup final, he scored 57 runs off 34 balls, which included hitting three sixes off Jasprit Bumrah.
Adding to the complexity, Farhan, along with fellow Pakistani player Haris Rauf, was officially reprimanded by the ICC for separate breaches of conduct during the same India-Pakistan Super Four match. Rauf was fined 30% of his match fees for mimicking a crashing plane, while Farhan received a warning for his "gun" celebration.
