After yet another contest against India in the Asia Cup ended in off-field drama, with the victorious Indian team declining to receive the trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Mohsin Naqvi, Pakistan captain Salman Agha accused the Men in Blue of disrespecting the game.
“Whatever has happened in this tournament is quite disappointing. They think that by not shaking hands, they are disrespecting us, but they are actually disrespecting cricket. A good team doesn’t do what they have done,” Agha said during the post-match press conference, which started well beyond midnight at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium after India beat Pakistan by five wickets in the summit clash of the continental event.
“A good team would have done what we did. I went alone and did the photoshoot with the trophy, and then we went and collected the medals,” he added.
Amidst the ongoing hostilities between neighbours, the Indian team didn’t want to receive the trophy from Naqvi, who is also Pakistan’s Interior Minister and serves as chairman of the country’s cricket board (PCB).
India captain Suryakumar Yadav didn’t turn up for the captains’ photoshoot ahead of the final on Sunday, and the players didn’t shake hands after the match for the third time in this tournament.
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Agha said that the Indian skipper didn’t want to be seen doing the customary handshakes only for optics, because he had greeted him during the pre-tournament captains’ press conference on September 9.
“He shook hands with me during the press conference at the start of the tournament and the referee meeting. When it is in front of the world, then they don’t do it. I am sure if it were up to him, he would do it. But he is only following instructions,” Agha added.
When asked about his views on the Indian team not being awarded the winners’ trophy, Agha bluntly replied, “The ACC president will give the trophy. If you don’t take the trophy from him, then how will you get it?”
Taking a cue from Suryakumar, who announced that he was giving his entire match fees from the Asia Cup to the Indian armed forces, Agha said the whole Pakistan team was also donating its proceeds from the tournament to those affected by ‘Indian attacks’, referring to the military strikes the Indian Army conducted against terrorist infrastructure across the border.
“We, as a team, are donating our match fees to those civilians and children who were affected by the Indian attacks,” he signed off.
Published on Sep 29, 2025
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