IND vs PAK Final: Beaten On Field, But Pakistan’s Post-Match Move Sparks Terror Funding Row | Cricket News

Last Updated:September 29, 2025, 17:41 IST

While Salman Ali Agha claimed the funds would aid victims’ families, some strategic experts fear the money could support terrorists, as Operation Sindoor mainly targeted them

India clinched the Asia Cup 2025 title with a five-wicket win over Pakistan, but a post-match announcement from the Pakistani side drew attention for being indicative of its stance on terrorism.

Pakistani captain Salman Ali Agha, visibly emotional after the loss, announced in a press conference that the Pakistani team would donate their match fees from the Asia Cup final to the families affected by India’s Operation Sindoor, which targeted terrorist bases in Pakistan in May 2025.

While Agha spoke of helping victims’ families, some strategic experts believe the funds could end up supporting terrorists, since Operation Sindoor largely targeted them. Operation Sindoor was a response to the Pahalgam terror attack, targeting Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba camps in Pakistan.

The Asia Cup final was held in Dubai, where India clinched the title in the last over. The post-match ceremony was notably dramatic, as the Indian team refused to accept the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, President of the Asian Cricket Council and Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman, who is also Pakistan’s Interior Minister.

India’s refusal to engage with Naqvi who has been sharing provocative posts on his social media, delayed the trophy presentation by over 90 minutes.

Naqvi had stirred controversy by sharing cryptic clips of Cristiano Ronaldo’s “plane crash” celebration, a gesture Pakistan has linked to its claim of downing six Indian fighter jets during Operation Sindoor.

During the ceremony, Emirates Cricket Board vice chairman Khalid Al Zarooni was scheduled to hand over the Asia Cup trophy to India. However, the Indian players reportedly refused to walk up as long as Naqvi remained on stage, and the PCB chief declined to step aside.

As a result, after individual honours were distributed and Pakistan players collected their medals from Bangladesh Cricket Board president Aminul Islam Bulbul, commentator Simon Doull informed viewers: “The Asian Cricket Council has conveyed that the Indian team will not be receiving their awards tonight. That concludes the post-match ceremony.”