When the dust settled on the Asia Cup final, India stood tall as the rightful champions, having beaten Pakistan not once, but three times in the tournament, including the final by five wickets. Yet, instead of reflecting on his team’s performance, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha chose to turn the spotlight elsewhere, dragging politics into cricket and aiming barbs at India.
At the post-match press conference, Agha claimed that the Pakistan team would donate their match fees to “Pakistani civilians who were killed” during Operation Sindoor in May.
"As a team, we are donating our match fees to our civilians who were affected during the ‘Indian attack,’" he said.
Agha went on to accuse Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav of refusing to shake hands in public.
"He shook hands with me in private at the start of the tournament… But when they're out in front of the cameras, they don't shake our hands. I'm sure he's following the instructions he's been given, but if it was up to him, he'd shake hands with me," he told reporters.
While the Indian players carried themselves with composure and discipline throughout the tournament, Pakistan’s captain appeared more concerned with gestures than with his side’s poor showing on the field.
Agha further claimed, "What India has done in this tournament is very disappointing… They're not disrespecting us by not shaking hands, they're disrespecting cricket." But the reality remains: it was India who played with professionalism, fulfilled their commitments, and lifted the trophy with pride, while Pakistan’s repeated defeats exposed their shortcomings.
In contrast to Agha’s bitterness, the Indian team let their cricket do the talking, showing sportsmanship where it mattered most, on the pitch.
The Pakistan captain insisted, "If a kid is watching in India or Pakistan, we're not sending them a good message… People think of us as role models, but if we're behaving like this, we're not inspiring them."
While Agha spoke of disrespect, the scorecard told its own story: Pakistan lost all three encounters against India, including the final. Instead of accepting responsibility, the Pakistan skipper chose blame and theatrics.
Inputs from TOI
At the post-match press conference, Agha claimed that the Pakistan team would donate their match fees to “Pakistani civilians who were killed” during Operation Sindoor in May.
"As a team, we are donating our match fees to our civilians who were affected during the ‘Indian attack,’" he said.
Agha went on to accuse Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav of refusing to shake hands in public.
"He shook hands with me in private at the start of the tournament… But when they're out in front of the cameras, they don't shake our hands. I'm sure he's following the instructions he's been given, but if it was up to him, he'd shake hands with me," he told reporters.
While the Indian players carried themselves with composure and discipline throughout the tournament, Pakistan’s captain appeared more concerned with gestures than with his side’s poor showing on the field.
Agha further claimed, "What India has done in this tournament is very disappointing… They're not disrespecting us by not shaking hands, they're disrespecting cricket." But the reality remains: it was India who played with professionalism, fulfilled their commitments, and lifted the trophy with pride, while Pakistan’s repeated defeats exposed their shortcomings.
In contrast to Agha’s bitterness, the Indian team let their cricket do the talking, showing sportsmanship where it mattered most, on the pitch.
The Pakistan captain insisted, "If a kid is watching in India or Pakistan, we're not sending them a good message… People think of us as role models, but if we're behaving like this, we're not inspiring them."
While Agha spoke of disrespect, the scorecard told its own story: Pakistan lost all three encounters against India, including the final. Instead of accepting responsibility, the Pakistan skipper chose blame and theatrics.
Inputs from TOI
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