The aftermath of the Asia Cup 2025 final between India and Pakistan has been riddled with controversy, as former Pakistani players and officials have voiced strong objections to India's alleged refusal to engage in customary handshakes and their decision to seemingly snub the Asia Cricket Council (ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi during the trophy presentation.
Following India's victory in the Asia Cup final, the Indian team refrained from shaking hands with the Pakistani players, a gesture that has been a traditional sign of sportsmanship in cricket. This action sparked outrage among former Pakistani cricketers, who viewed it as a violation of the spirit of the game. Kamran Akmal and Basit Ali, both former Pakistan players, expressed their disappointment on live television, with Akmal claiming it was the first time he had witnessed captains not shaking hands after the toss. Ali warned that such behavior could set a negative precedent.
Adding fuel to the fire, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha claimed that while Suryakumar Yadav, the Indian captain, had shaken hands with him privately at the start of the tournament, he refused to do so in front of the cameras. Agha stated that India's behavior was "very disappointing" and disrespectful to the game, not just to the Pakistani team. He further lamented that such actions send a poor message to young fans in both countries.
The controversy extended to the trophy presentation ceremony, where the Indian team allegedly refused to accept the trophy from ACC chief Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Pakistan's Interior Minister. Reports suggest that the Indian team's refusal to accept the trophy from Naqvi was in line with their decision to not shake hands with the Pakistani team during the tournament. This perceived snub was met with criticism from former Pakistani cricketer Bazid Khan, who questioned the message being sent to the world.
Former Pakistan captain Younis Khan also weighed in on the matter, criticizing India for not shaking hands and stating that it "damaged the spirit of the game". He suggested that the Indian players were following the policy and advice of their government, while also expressing frustration at Pakistan's lack of consistency compared to India's well-structured cricketing system.
Suryakumar Yadav, the Indian captain, addressed the issue of handshakes by alluding to the Pahalgam terror attack and honoring the sacrifices of the Indian Armed Forces. Furthermore, he declared that he would donate his Asia Cup match fees to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and the armed forces.
