PAK captain Salman Agha slams India's trophy snub act, accuses Suryakumar and Co. of 'disrespecting cricket'

Salman Agha slams India: 'Who started it?' after Suryakumar Yadav’s Asia Cup trophy snub (Photo- X)

Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha doubled down and targeted India following the completion of the Asia Cup 2025, claiming that his team's antics during the eight-team competition were justifiable. He also voiced his support for Mohsin Naqvi, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), following India’s refusal to accept the Asia Cup trophy from him.

Since India and Pakistan's encounter on September 14, the tournament has been marred by several controversies. After the games, Indian players refused to shake hands with Pakistani cricketers. India captain Suryakumar Yadav expressed his team's solidarity with the Pahalgam terror assault and dedicated the first victory over Pakistan in the tournament to the Indian Armed Forces.

Also Read | Planes and guns to presentation ceremony fiasco: Dramas Pakistan and Mohsin Naqvi pulled at Asia Cup 2025

This left Pakistan irked, who then skipped the required pre-match press conferences twice in the competition. In an official protest against match referee Andy Pycroft, the PCB threatened to withdraw from the competition unless he was removed from the remaining matches. As PCB considered their options after learning that the ICC had refused to remove Pycroft, the match against the UAE got off to a delayed start.

When the tournament ended on September 28, the Indian team refused to accept the trophy from Naqvi, the Interior Minister in the Pakistan government. An out-of-context video of Cristiano Ronaldo was previously posted by Naqvi on X in relation to Pakistan's allegations of knocking down Indian fighter jets during Operation Sindoor.

When Pakistan captain Agha arrived at the post-match press conference after India's five-wicket victory in the final, he made fun of the opposition by asking how they would get the trophy if they chose to defy the rules and reject it from the relevant authority (ACC chair).

Salman Ali Agha on in presser

“ACC President sy trophy ni lain gy to kesy mily gi?”

“Jo ohno ny ground main kiya ye osk consequences hn.”

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“Ap hmsy poch ry hain start ohno ny kiya.”

“Aaj wo jeet ry hn to 90s main hamny b unkonis tara haraya hai.”
pic.twitter.com/IREYNrOuDA

— Abu Bakar Tarar (@abubakartarar_) September 28, 2025

The full exchange between Salman Agha and the reporters is as follows:

Reporter: Have you ever seen a champion team not get the trophy? Your team missed the pre-match press conferences. Have you ever seen a team break so many protocols during the tournament?

Agha: Sir, our actions were just consequences of what happened earlier in the tournament. You are asking me questions, but who started it? Look at that. If the ACC President is there, he will give away the trophy. If you don't want to take the trophy from him, then how will you get the trophy? And you spoke about pre-match press conferences, it all happened after what happened on the ground. It wasn't our attitude from the beginning of the tournament. It's not about who is doing what; it's about what is wrong with the game.

Also Read | Boycotting Asia Cup presentation, not taking trophy 'will haunt India': Shoaib Malik

Reporter: You displayed proper sportsman spirit. When it comes to handshakes, your team had a very good spirit. Today, you got your pictures clicked with the trophy alone before the start of the match. The PCB chairman waited a lot on the presentation dias. India captain Suryakumar Yadav shook his hands before the tournament started. I just want to know from you what you are taking back because players are ambassadors?

Agha: Sir, what has happened in this tournament is very disappointing. If you look at cricket, they are thinking that if they do not shake hands with us, they are disrespecting us. No, sir, they are disrespecting cricket. What they did today, a good team will never behave this way. A good team will behave just like we did. We were waiting there to receive our medals. We got our pictures taken separately with the trophy before the start of the game. Whatever they are doing with the game, I don't want to use very harsh words. This is very disrespectful; they are being disrespectful to the game.