Salman Agha Accuses India of “Disrespecting Cricket”
Pakistan’s captain Salman Ali Agha has criticized India’s conduct during the Asia Cup 2025, accusing the team of showing “disrespect to cricket” after refusing to accept the Asia Cup trophy and avoiding handshakes in front of cameras.
Speaking after Pakistan’s five-wicket defeat in the final, Agha said Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav shook hands with him in private meetings but not in front of the media.
“He shook hands with me privately at the pre-tournament press conference and during the referee’s meeting. But when the cameras were on, he didn’t. I believe he’s following instructions, not his own choice,” Agha told reporters in Dubai.
Trophy Controversy Deepens Political Tensions
The controversy escalated when the Indian team refused to receive the Asia Cup trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, Pakistan’s Interior Minister, PCB Chairman, and ACC President.
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In a dramatic moment, Naqvi left the venue with the trophy, leaving India unable to lift the title for a record ninth time.
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Pakistani players, however, posed with the trophy and collected their medals to “fulfill their obligations.”
Agha remarked:
“What India did was disappointing. By refusing the handshake and trophy, they disrespected cricket—not us. Good teams don’t behave this way.”
Impact on Cricket Fans
The Pakistan skipper expressed concern that the row sent a negative message to fans and young players.
“If kids in India or Pakistan watch this, what are we teaching them? We’re supposed to be role models, but this is not inspiring. What happened was very bad for cricket.”
Admits India’s Current Dominance
Despite his criticism, Agha acknowledged that India is ahead of Pakistan in cricket right now.
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India beat Pakistan three times in the tournament, including the final.
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Agha admitted Pakistan has struggled against India but believes the balance will shift in the future.
“Every team has its era. In the 1990s, we dominated. Now India is stronger, but soon we’ll bounce back.”
Pakistan Team to Donate Match Fees
In a symbolic gesture, Agha announced that the Pakistan team will donate their match fees to families of civilians killed during Operation Sindoor in May.
“As a team, we have decided to donate our fees to the Pakistani civilians affected during the Indian attack,” Agha confirmed.
