Ex-Pakistan Star Blasts Saim Ayub Over Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Send-Off: 'Social Media Stunt'

News cricket Ex-Pakistan Star Blasts Saim Ayub Over Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Send-Off: 'Social Media Stunt'

Ex-Pakistan Star Blasts Saim Ayub Over Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Send-Off: 'Social Media Stunt'

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Last Updated: October 04, 2026, 07:59 IST

Former Pakistan star urges management to rein in players' social media antics after Saim Ayub's controversial send-off to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the Asian Games final.

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Saim Ayub (left) and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (Screengrab)

Former cricketer Kamran Akmal said that Pakistan players’ on-field antics have gone on for a long time and that management should address them, adding that cricketers do it for social media.

The Asian Games final between India and Pakistan was marred by controversy when Pakistan all-rounder Saim Ayub dismissed 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for 15 off nine balls.

After taking the wicket, Ayub appeared to make a ‘baby cradle’ gesture, which was perceived as a send-off aimed at the young Indian batter. Sooryavanshi didn’t react and walked back to the dugout.

The presenter on the Game Plan YouTube show questioned the gesture, saying, “Did you see that action? How unfortunate is that? You are playing such good cricket and giving India competition after such a long time. These things don’t look good."

“These things have been happening for a long time. Our performance has not been great, but we are doing things for social media. The management should think about this," Akmal said.

“It is international cricket. No matter whether he is 13, 14 or 15, he is playing international cricket. Saim Ayub is not a kid. He should focus on his performances," Akmal added.

The tension surrounding an India-Pakistan clash was palpable, but the much-anticipated Asian Games cricket final between the old rivals passed off without any major drama in Nagoya on Saturday, October 3.

But the cricketers once again avoided the customary handshakes.

It ended with India defeating Pakistan by 19 runs to retain the gold medal.

There was considerable curiosity over how the high-profile final would play out, both on and off the field. But barring the absence of customary handshakes, the contest remained free of controversy, with neither team allowing the strained bilateral ties to spill over onto the field.

For the sizeable Indian diaspora, which had travelled from Tokyo, Nagoya and other parts of Japan to watch the final, it was a day centred on cricket.

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Quick Answers Powered by Ask News18 What gesture did Saim Ayub make after dismissing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi? After dismissing 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi during the Asian Games final, Pakistan all-rounder Saim Ayub appeared to make a baby cradle gesture, which was perceived as a send-off. How did Kamran Akmal react to Saim Ayub's on-field action? Former cricketer Kamran Akmal criticized Saim Ayub's gesture, stating that players do such things for social media and that the management should address these on-field antics. Who won the Asian Games cricket final between India and Pakistan? India defeated Pakistan by 19 runs in Nagoya to retain the gold medal, during a match where the two teams once again avoided customary handshakes. Powered by Ask News18

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First Published: October 04, 2026, 07:54 IST

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