After the Indian team won the Asia Cup 2025 by defeating Pakistan in Dubai on September 28, captain Suryakumar Yadav donated his tournament match fee to the armed forces and victims of the Pahalgam terror tragedy. Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha followed suit, announcing that his side would donate their winnings from the final to civilians and children affected by India’s Operation Sindoor.
The heightened tensions between India and Pakistan had a significant impact on the buildup to and aftermath of the final. Earlier this year, a terror incident in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, killed 26 lives, prompting India to begin Operation Sindoor, which targets militant camps across the border. The Pakistani captain said during the post-match press conference that he would donate the match fees.
“As a team, we have decided to donate our match fees to the civilians and children affected by India’s attack,” Agha said at the post-match press conference.
They are disrespecting cricket: Salman Agha
Meanwhile, the Men in Blue lifted their ninth Asia Cup title after a five-wicket win, courtesy of Kuldeep Yadav’s four-wicket haul and a match-winning 69* from Tilak Varma. But instead of the post-match ceremony celebrating India’s unbeaten campaign, it was affected by a series of controversies as the Indian players declined to accept the trophy from Pakistan Cricket Board’s chief, Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief and Pakistan’s Interior Minister.
The donation announcement was not the only strong statement from the Pakistan captain. Agha openly criticized India’s refusal to accept the trophy from Naqvi, calling it disappointing and disrespectful to cricket.
“What happened in this tournament? I think it is very disappointing. If you look at it, they feel that by not shaking hands, they are disrespecting us but in fact they are disrespecting cricket. And anyone who disrespects cricket, I think it comes back, and I am very sure that it will happen,” he said.
The presentation ceremony itself was delayed by over an hour, and eventually, the ACC announced that the Indian team would not collect their awards from Naqvi. The PCB chief was later seen leaving with the trophy.
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