Pakistan captain follows Suryakumar Yadav's footsteps, donates match fee to 'Operation Sindoor victims'

By Admin

01 Oct, 2025

The Asia Cup 2025 final in Dubai will be remembered not only for the cricketing contest between India and Pakistan but also for the dramatic scenes that unfolded off the field. While India emerged victorious, defeating Pakistan in a high-voltage clash, the post-match events and the statements made by the captains of both sides stirred equal attention.

Pakistan Captain’s Big Announcement

In a touching gesture, Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha announced that his entire team would donate their match fees to the “civilians and children” affected by India’s Operation Sindoor. Speaking at the post-match press conference, Agha said:

“As a team, we have decided to donate our match fees to the civilians and children affected by India’s attack.”

This move follows Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav’s earlier announcement, where he pledged his match fee from the Asia Cup to support the armed forces and the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 people in April. India launched Operation Sindoor two weeks later, targeting terror camps across the border in retaliation.

Trophy Controversy Overshadows the Finale

The final was also marred by controversy during the presentation ceremony, which began over an hour late. In a dramatic turn, the Indian team refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also heads the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and currently serves as Pakistan’s Interior Minister.

According to reports, while Kuldeep Yadav, Abhishek Sharma, and Tilak Varma collected their individual awards from other dignitaries, the Indian team collectively avoided interaction with Naqvi. Agha accepted the runners-up cheque from Naqvi, but the Indian players made no acknowledgment of the PCB chief.

New Zealand commentator Simon Doull, who hosted the presentation, confirmed:

“I have been informed by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) that the Indian cricket team will not be collecting their awards tonight. So that does conclude the post-match presentation.”

Naqvi later left the venue, reportedly carrying the trophy back to his hotel.

Agha Criticises Indian Team’s Behaviour

The Pakistan captain did not hold back while addressing the controversy. Expressing disappointment, Agha remarked:

“They are not disrespecting us by not shaking hands, they are disrespecting cricket. Good teams don't do what they did.”

He added that the Pakistan team chose to pose with the trophy on their own, fulfilling their duty despite the awkward situation.

“We went to pose with the trophy (photo shoot) on our own because we wanted to fulfil our obligations. We stood there and took our medals. I don't want to use harsh words but they've been very disrespectful,” he said.

Political Overtones Behind the Ceremony

The controversy gained further weight when BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia later confirmed that India had consciously refused to accept the trophy from Naqvi due to his dual role as both ACC Chairman and Pakistan’s Interior Minister. The move was seen as a political statement, reflecting the strained relations between the two nations.

Cricket and Beyond

While the final on the field delivered the intensity expected of an India–Pakistan clash, the gestures and controversies that followed highlighted how deeply politics and sports remain intertwined between the two countries. Both captains’ decisions to donate their match fees for victims though in contrasting contexts show the symbolic role cricket continues to play in moments of national and regional tension.

The Asia Cup 2025 may have ended with India lifting the title, but the lingering images will be of a fractured ceremony, symbolic defiance, and gestures of solidarity reminders that cricket in South Asia often transcends the boundary ropes.