Pakistan’s T20 captain Salman Ali Agha has called India’s refusal to accept the Asia Cup 2025 trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi “an insult to cricket,” saying the decision hurt the spirit of the game.
Speaking after the final, Salman said he had never witnessed such behavior in international cricket. “If India does not take the trophy, how will it be given? What India did is not done by a good team. Refusing to accept the trophy and avoiding handshakes is a serious insult to the game,” he remarked.
Salman also announced that he would donate his match fee from the final to Pakistani families affected by the recent Indian attack, calling it a small gesture of solidarity. Despite the defeat, he praised his teammates, saying Pakistan played well but fell short in the final overs.
Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav also expressed surprise at the incident. Speaking at a press conference, he said, “I have never seen a winning team not being given a trophy.” Yadav explained that the players themselves made the decision and were not guided by officials. All-rounder Abhishek Sharma added that while the trophy was not officially awarded, the team at least had the chance to “feel it.”
The press conference turned tense when the Indian media manager refused to allow a question from a Pakistani journalist, further straining the atmosphere.
The controversy erupted when the Indian team refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy from Naqvi during the post-match ceremony. Naqvi went ahead with the runner-up presentation, handing a cheque to Salman Ali Agha and overseeing the fireworks, but the winners left the stage without medals or the trophy. The Indian players later returned for photographs and celebrations, but the trophy was absent from the victory moment.
The snub has sparked heated reactions from both sides, with cricket fans and officials debating the impact on the spirit of sportsmanship in international cricket.
