Pakistan captain Salman Agha didn’t hold back after his team’s heartbreaking five-wicket loss to India in the Asia Cup final. He slammed the Indian players for snubbing handshakes throughout the tournament, calling it a outright disrespect to cricket itself.
The drama kicked off on September 14 when India first refused to shake hands with Pakistan’s squad. It happened again twice more, including right after the tense final match. Tensions boiled over even further with a whopping 90-minute delay before the presentation ceremony could start. India reportedly wouldn’t accept the winners’ trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, who’s both the Asian Cricket Council chief and Pakistan’s Interior Minister.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Agha laid it out straight: “What India did in this tournament is really disappointing. They’re not just disrespecting us—they’re disrespecting cricket.” He added that true sportsmanship from top teams means rising above rivalries, but Pakistan stepped up anyway. “We went to pose with the trophy on our own to meet our duties. We stood there and took our medals. I won’t use harsh words, but they’ve been very disrespectful.”
Agha also pointed fingers at India’s approach under the spotlight. He mentioned Suryakumar Yadav, saying the Indian star had been friendly in private. “He shook hands with me at the pre-tournament press conference on September 9 and during the referee’s meeting. But in front of the cameras, they don’t. I’m sure he’s just following orders—if it were up to him, he’d shake hands.”
When asked about India skipping the trophy handover, Agha shook his head in disbelief. “I’ve never seen anything like this before. Everything that went down in the Asia Cup was bad for the game, and I hope it ends soon. The ACC president hands out the trophy to the winners—that’s how it works. If you won’t take it from him, how do you even get it?”
The handshake controversy and trophy refusal have sparked big debates in the Pakistan vs India cricket rivalry, leaving fans wondering if this Asia Cup drama will cool off or heat up international cricket even more.
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