England fast bowler jofra archer has once again captured the attention of cricket fans around the world with his distinctive ‘C’ celebration, which was prominently displayed after dismissing the Pakistan opener Saim Ayyub during their t20 world cup 2026 super 8 Match at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
Archer made the signed hand signal after Ayub was dismissed for just 7 runs off 7 balls in the third over of Pakistan’s innings. The left-handed opening batsman attempted to send Archer for a big hit, but did not succeed. jacob bethelWho took a brilliant catch to send the Pakistani batsmen to the pavilion.
The ‘C’ celebration – made by flexing his thumb and index finger – was repeatedly captured by broadcast cameras, prompting immediate speculation about its meaning on social media platforms.
Fans and experts quickly connected the dots of a long-running story involving Australian batsman Steve Smith.
Meaning behind the ‘Si’ celebration
The gesture originated from the 2019 Ashes series, when Archer and steve smith Involved in one of the most memorable confrontations in Test cricket. During the Second Test at Lord’s, a brutal Archer bouncer hit Smith on the neck, forcing the Australian to retire hurt after falling to the ground.
Upon returning to the crease, Smith was seen making the ‘C’ hand signal in the dressing room – widely thought to indicate that he was ready for a concussion test or indicating “concussion” to the team medical staff.
Replicating the gesture after dismissing batsmen in this World Cup, Archer is seen engaging in playful banter on the field, and subtly references that iconic Ashes moment every time he claims a wicket. This celebration first appeared during England’s group stage match against Sri Lanka when Archer dismissed Pathum Nissanka and has now become his signature reaction to success.
Here is the video:
Strong reaction from fans after Sam Ayub’s departure! 😳
Jofra Archer’s consistent variations proved too much for the Pakistani opener.
icc men #T20WorldCup | super 8, #ENGvPAK ➡️ Live now 👉 https://t.co/BmGBktbFCX pic.twitter.com/ygjzWfqIDw
– Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) 24 February 2026
Adding to the drama of the moment, broadcast cameras captured a fanatical Pakistani fan, whose distressed reaction to Ayub’s dismissal quickly went viral. The supporter, with the Pakistan flag painted on his face, was seen pulling his hair in anger and shedding tears as his team’s hopes suffered an early blow.
The contrast between Archer’s dramatic celebration and the fan’s heartbreak perfectly encapsulated the emotional rollercoaster of tournament cricket, with social media users sharing the clip widely with memes and reactions.
Match Summary: England reach semi-finals
Archer’s celebration came during a performance that helped England restricted Pakistan to 164 runs for 9 wickets in 20 overs.. He took 2 wickets for 32 runs, and also dismissed tail-ender Shaheen Afridi, while Liam Dawson was the best bowler with 3 wickets for 24 runs.
England reached the target with five balls to spare thanks to captain Harry Brook’s brilliant unbeaten 100 off 51 balls – his first T20 century. This win secured England’s place in the semi-finals with one match remaining against New Zealand.
For Pakistan, the defeat leaves their semi-final hopes in limbo after their first Super 8 match against New Zealand was washed out due to rain. Despite Sahibzada Farhan’s innings of 63 off 45 balls, the Salman Ali Aga-led side failed to post a really competitive total on a good batting surface.
