The fallout from the Asia Cup 2025 final in Dubai has deepened, with Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha publicly accusing Team India of “disrespecting cricket” during the tournament. India defeated Pakistan by five wickets to secure their ninth Asia Cup crown, but tensions off the field continue to dominate headlines.
Speaking to reporters after the final, Agha alleged that Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav privately shook hands with him twice earlier in the tournament but avoided the gesture when cameras were present.
“He shook hands with me in private at the start of the tournament, both at the pre-tournament press conference and in the referee’s meeting. But when the cameras are on, they don’t shake hands. I think he’s following instructions, but if it was up to him, he’d shake hands with me,” Agha claimed.
The Pakistan skipper went on to slam India’s stance, saying it sent the wrong message to cricket fans worldwide.
“They’re not disrespecting us by refusing handshakes—they’re disrespecting cricket. Good teams don’t behave this way. This is the first time I’ve seen something like this, and it’s very bad for cricket,” Agha said.
He further added that children and fans look up to cricketers as role models, and such actions harm the spirit of the game.
“I’m not just Pakistan’s captain, I’m also a cricket fan. If kids are watching in India or Pakistan, we’re not inspiring them by behaving like this. What happened shouldn’t have happened,” he added.
Despite the controversy, Agha admitted that Pakistan were outplayed on the field.
“We are not playing good cricket against them. Every team has its era—maybe this is India’s. In the ’90s, we used to beat them; now they are beating us. Soon, we will bounce back,” he said.
In a final statement, Agha revealed that the Pakistan team would donate their match fees to civilians affected by Operation Sindoor in May, which Pakistan has described as an “Indian attack.”
Also Read: BCCI Slams Mohsin Naqvi for Taking Asia Cup Trophy to Hotel, Vows Strong ICC Protest
While India celebrated yet another dominant Asia Cup victory, the tournament will also be remembered for the fiery words and political undertones that spilled beyond the boundary lines.
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