Asia Cup sparks political storm; India–Pakistan tensions spill from field to politics
Pakistan captain Salman Agha called it “disrespectful, not just to us but to the game.”
India beat Pakistan in the Asia Cup final yesterday night (29 September), but the cricket has been overshadowed by the fallout that followed.
On the field, it was a classic. Pakistan, given a strong start by Sahibzada Farhan's half-century, crashed from 113 for 1 to 146 all out. Nine wickets gone for just 33 runs. Kuldeep Yadav's four wickets did the damage. India's reply was shaky — three wickets down for 20, the crowd buzzing, Pakistan sensing a way in.
Then Tilak Varma stood firm. His 69 not out, alongside Shivam Dube's 33, dragged India over the line with two balls to spare.
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It should have been about that chase. Instead, attention flipped the moment the presentation began. India's players refused to take the trophy from Asian Cricket Council president Mohsin Naqvi, who is also Pakistan's interior minister and PCB chairman. They posed for photos with imaginary silverware, leaving the real trophy behind.
Pakistan captain Salman Agha called it "disrespectful, not just to us but to the game."
He said India's refusal to shake hands throughout the tournament and their behaviour at the ceremony sent the wrong message: "If kids are watching this, what are they learning?"
Politics rushed in almost immediately. Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India congratulated the Indian team with a post linking the win to "Operation Sindoor," the military action against Pakistan earlier this year.
"On the field, too, Operation Sindoor. Result the same — India victorious," he wrote.
Naqvi hit back within the hour.
"If war is your measure of pride, history has already written your defeats," he posted, accusing Modi of dragging war into cricket.
The row capped a tournament already heavy with tension. Captains didn't shake hands at tosses, joint photos were skipped, and even routine pleasantries avoided.
By the time India held their mock celebration on stage, the frost had turned into a visible split.
India now has nine Asia Cup titles, two in T20 format. Yet this edition will be remembered as much for politics as for cricket — for a night in Dubai where a final ended not with a trophy in hand, but with both sides pointing fingers long after the game was done.
