Pakistan’s T20 captain Salman Ali Agha has strongly condemned India’s refusal to accept the Asia Cup 2025 trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi, calling it “an insult to cricket” and a deeply disappointing moment for the sport.
Speaking after the final, Salman said:
“If India does not take the trophy, how will it be given? What India did is not done by a good team.”
He added that refusing to accept the trophy and avoiding handshakes was a “serious insult to the game.”
Salman also noted that the Indian players were simply following instructions, saying: “I have never seen anything like this in my life.”
Donation to Pakistani families
In a heartfelt gesture, Salman Ali Agha announced that he would donate his final match fee to Pakistani families affected by the recent Indian attack.
Despite the defeat, he expressed pride in Pakistan’s performance, saying the team played well but fell short in the last overs.
Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav responds
Meanwhile, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav said he too had “never seen a winning team not being given a trophy.”
At a press conference, Yadav clarified that the Indian team made the decision on the ground and were not informed by officials about the trophy. He added: “We played good cricket in the Asia Cup, but no trophy was awarded.”
All-rounder Abhishek Sharma, who was present alongside Yadav, remarked that the players at least “felt the Asia Cup trophy.”
During the same press conference, the Indian media manager declined to take a question from a Pakistani journalist, further fueling tensions.
Background: Trophy snub
The controversy began when the Indian team refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, the ACC president and PCB chairman, during the post-match ceremony.
Naqvi went ahead with the presentation for the runner-up team, handing Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha the cheque. Fireworks followed, but the ceremony concluded without India receiving medals or the trophy.
The Indian team later returned to the stage for group photos and celebrations—without the trophy in hand.
