Following India's victory in the Asia Cup 2025 final against Pakistan, captain Suryakumar Yadav announced he would donate his entire match fees from the tournament to the Indian Armed Forces and the families affected by the recent terror attack in Pahalgam.
Yadav made the announcement at the post-match press conference, stating, "I personally want to give all my match fees from this tournament (from all the games) to the Indian army". He also posted on X (formerly Twitter): "I have decided to donate my match fees from this tournament to support our Armed Forces and the families of the victims who suffered from the Pahalgam terror attack. You always remain in my thoughts. Jai Hind".
Indian players are authorized to ₹4 lakh per match in the T20 format. Having played all seven matches in the tournament, Yadav will be donating a total of ₹28 lakh.
The Asia Cup 2025, held in the United Arab Emirates from September 9 to 28, 2025, saw India defeat Pakistan by 5 wickets in the final. However, the victory was overshadowed by controversy when the Indian team refused to accept the trophy from Pakistan's interior minister and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president, Mohsin Naqvi.
Yadav also expressed his disappointment with the ACC for denying the champions their trophy despite a hard-fought campaign. He stated he had never seen a champion team being denied a trophy. Despite the controversy, Yadav commended his teammates, calling them the "real trophies" and emphasizing the significance of the win.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a reward of ₹21 crore for the players and support staff following the victory.
Yadav's gesture was lauded by fans and officials alike, with many praising his patriotism and dedication to the armed forces and the victims of the Pahalgam attack. Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha mirrored Yadav's approach by announcing that his team would donate their match fees to civilians affected by an "Indian attack".
India's win in the Asia Cup 2025 marks their ninth title in the tournament.
