Suryakumar Ashok Yadav

Salman Ali Agha also termed the stance by the Indian team as "disrespectful" and not the ideal example of sportsmanship for young cricket fans who look up to them as role models.

For India, the refusal to accept the trophy became a reaffirmation of dignity. For Pakistan, Naqvi’s intolerant posture further exposed how politics continues to poison one of the world’s greatest rivalries.

A video doing rounds on social media showed Suryakumar Yadav and his teammates hoisting an "imaginary" trophy.

Suryakumar Yadav had to ensure that his team kept their cool in the face of constant provocation, both from Pakistan’s player and their board president, Mohsin Naqvi.

Three times earlier, including during Sunday's final, Suryakumar Yadav made a firm decision not to shake hands with Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha.

Since India and Pakistan's encounter on September 14, the 2025 edition of the major Asian tournament has been marred by several scandals.

During an earlier clash with Pakistan, in which Team India won comfortably, Bharadwaj had targeted India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav over his tribute to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.

Asia Cup: Sanju Samson was finally in his element, playing some breathtaking sixes in his 22-ball-innings.

The remarks in concern were made by Suryakumar Yadav after the group stage encounter against Pakistan, which India won by seven wickets.

The BCCI too has filed an official complaint with the ICC against Pakistan cricketers Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan for their provocative gestures during the Super Four meeting between the two sides.

Having already defeated them by seven wickets in the group stage, this was India's second comfortable win against the arch-rivals in Asia Cup 2025.

Suryakumar Yadav reshuffled the batting order to give the lower-order more game time.

Suryakumar Yadav, his successor in T20Is, experienced a similar moment ahead of India's final group stage encounter against Oman in Abu Dhabi on Friday.

Suryakumar displayed great maturity in both his on-field choices and his batsmanship during the match against Pakistan. The handshake controversy that followed the victory was also well-handled by by the skipper.

India under Suryakumar's leadership have secured two wins in as many matches at the Asia Cup 2025.

Messages to boycott the India-Pakistan match were all over social media due to heightened tension between the two nations after the gruesome terrorist attack in April.

Mohammad Yousuf refused to apologise and mentioned that he "didn’t mean any disrespect".

As a guest expert on a panel discussion on SAMAA TV, Yusuf was asked to comment on the outcome of the match, which saw the Men in Blue defeat their formerly bitter rivals by commanding seven wickets.

The BCCI is yet to respond to the PCB's statements but it is reliably learnt that if India make the tournament's final on September 28, the players won't be sharing the presentation dais with Naqvi.

This is now a rivalry only in name, with India barely breaking sweat as they cantered to a seven-wicket win on Sunday night.