Dubai: Pakistan captain Salman Agha accused the Men in Blue of disrespecting the game for their repeated refusal to shake hands with the Pakistan team players throughout the Asia Cup.
The controversy over handshakes began on September 14 when India refused to shake hands with Pakistan players, in the final, where Indian players refused to shake hands with their arch rivals for the third time in the tournament.
The Asia Cup final was also marred by another controversy as there was more than a 90-minute delay before the presentation ceremony began, with India refusing to accept the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, who is the Asian Cricket Council chief and also the Interior Minister of Pakistan.
“What India have done this tournament is very disappointing. They’re not disrespecting us by not shaking hands, they’re disrespecting cricket,” Agha said at the press conference after losing to India by five wickets in the summit clash.
“Good teams don’t do what they did today. We went to pose with the trophy on our own because we wanted to fulfil our obligations. We stood there and took our medals. I don’t want to use harsh words, but they’ve been very disrespectful,” he added.
Agha further said that if it had been up to Suryakumar, he would have shaken hands with Agha before the toss, claiming Suryakumar Uadav had greeted him during the pre-tournament captains’ press conference on September 9.
“He shook hands with me in private at the start of the tournament. Both at the pre-tournament press conference and when we met in the referee’s meeting. But when they’re out in the world in front of the cameras, they don’t shake our hands. I’m sure he’s following the instructions he’s been given, but if it was up to him, he’d shake hands with me,” Agha said.
Asked about his views on the Indian team not being awarded the winners’ trophy, Agha replied, “This is the first time I’ve ever seen this happen. Whatever happened in this tournament was very bad, and I hope it stops at some stage because it’s bad for cricket.
“Everything that happened today was a consequence of all that happened [before]. Of course the ACC president will give the trophy to the winners. If you won’t take the trophy from him, how will you get it?”
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Caption : Dubai: India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan’s captain Salman Agha during the toss ahead of the Asia Cup 2025 final match between India and Pakistan at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, in Dubai on Sunday, September 28, 2025. (Photo: IANS/Biplab Banerjee)
–IANS
