 "'We should never play against them': Ex-Pakistan players slam India’s trophy boycott and no-handshake policy in Asia Cup")
The Asia Cup 2025 final between India and Pakistan took place in Dubai on Sunday, September 28. India defeated their bitter rivals Pakistan by 5 wickets to win their ninth Asia Cup title, and second in the T20 format. However, this edition of the tournament will be remembered more for the controversies than the actual games.
A fresh controversy occurred after India refused to accept the winners’ trophy from Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the head of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the current president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). This was after India refused to shake hands with Pakistani players throughout the Asia Cup as a sign of respect for the Pahalgam terror attack victims and the armed forces.
However, India’s protest did not sit well with the Pakistani camp and the ACC chief. Naqvi reportedly left with the trophy after Indian players refused to share the stage with him. Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha criticised the Men in Blue over what he called a breach of the spirit of cricket.
Ex-Pakistan players react to Asia Cup final drama
Former Pakistani cricketers were quick to react. Kamran Akmal slammed India for their actions and urged the PCB to take a firm stance. Bazid Khan echoed the criticism, noting that the tension around India-Pakistan matches was predictable but expressed shock at India’s antics. Basit Ali also criticised India’s trophy boycott and no-handshake policy.
“Pakistan board should immediately say that ‘we should never play against India’. Let’s see what action ICC takes. What else evidence do you need after this? But the BCCI person is leading the ICC – how will he take any action? The other boards have to come together, say we can’t see this in cricket. Sports is not played at anyone’s home. If others don’t play them, then no money is going to come,” Akmal said.
“The earlier these things can be controlled, the better for everybody. A neutral body has to be formed without Pakistan and India, make a committee and let them decide on what action to be taken about all that has happened in this tournament. These cheap behaviour we shall keep seeing from India. We have seen in this tournament they have done as much damage to cricket as they could. PCB and ACC president took the right stand – take the trophy or not, it will be given by the president only. India will become the joke of the cricketing world," he added.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“You generally had an idea that something of this kind would happen. But for the Asia Cup to happen that way, the very purpose of the Asia Cup is for all Asian teams to play together. On top of that, you specifically say that if this person gives the trophy, we will not take it. And you also see that the presidency of the Asia Cup is also on rotation basis. So its basic purpose was always that Asian teams play amongst themselves and then basically compete with teams from the rest of the world,” Bazid Khan said.
“All the boards have to come together and take action against India. But cricket is run on broadcasters. They get the most money from Pakistan and India. If Pakistan says we won’t play India, then the broadcasters will come to the road. Inside the ground, India have won, but outside it, they have lost. They might as well not come to play the tournament instead of doing all this. Who gets the infamy? Entire India, only. I know there are sensible people in India who will raise their voices," Basit Ali said.
Earlier, Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav had skipped the pre-match photoshoot with Salman Agha, and the latter was seen posing with the trophy alone. Meanwhile, Pakistan players did take their runners-up medals after the defeat on Sunday. SKY had earlier said that some things are above sportsmanship.
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