NEW DELHI, Sept 29: The politically charged Asia Cup 2025 concluded with India and Pakistan squaring off three times, all the three times ending with India’s victory over their arch rivals, with the most recent battle coming in the final on Sunday.
Even in the title-decider, as India focused on giving their best on the field, Pakistan tried dirty tricks to unnerve the Indian players. After the final match, India’s T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav sat in the press conference with Abhishek Sharma on Sunday. The tournament concluded on a controversial note after the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi decided to take away the trophy and medals from the ceremony, following India’s refusal to accept them from his hands as he is also a Pakistani minister and known for India-hate speeches.
But, as Suryakumar arrived in the post-match presser, it was he who was accused of politicising the game since the start of the Asia Cup campaign. A Pakistani reporter taunted Suryakumar, labelling his behaviour as an act of mixing politics in cricket. “The question is that you have become a champion today and played well. But the whole tournament, your behaviour with Pakistan team was not good. You didn’t shake hands. Then you did photo session for trophy. And then you held political press conference. Do you think that in this whole history of cricket, you are the first captain who brought politics into it?”
In response, Suryakumar said: “Bolna hain ahi bolna hai? Gussa ho rahe ho aap. Sawaal pata nahi chala aapka, 4 questions ek saath puch liye aapne (Can I speak or not? You are getting angry (laughs). I didn’t understand your question, you asked four of them together). In the press conference, Suryakumar also criticised Mohsin Naqvi for his decision to take away the Asia Cup trophy with him.
“This is one thing which I have never seen since I started playing and following cricket. That a champion team is denied to get a trophy, that too a hard-earned one. I feel we deserved it, and I can’t say anything more. My trophies are sitting in my dressing room, all the 14 guys with me, all the support staff, those are the real trophies,” Suryakumar said.
Later asked about Pakistani players playing dirty tricks to distract Indian players and how he handled the provocations by Salman Ali Agha’s team, Suryakumar said, “There has to be a difference.” “I think there has to be a difference between the two sides. We never made any gesture, no hand movements. We wanted to play the game with dignity. They wanted to make a statement outside. The result can go in any team’s favour. But when you come back, you should be happy with the effort you gave, the game you played. From outside, people think a lot happens, but I told the players, ‘Let’s keep the emotions aside and play a good game. Whatever comes at the end, we’ll take it’,” he said.
Suryakumar also lauded the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for standing in front of the team during the course of the Asia Cup as a shield. Suryakumar also said it was the right time for the Indian team to take the next leap of growth. “It is such a big board, so many players, such a big country. BCCI stood ahead of us, gave us ample support. Hence, it’s the players’ duty to give it back to the board by playing good cricket, and win trophies. When I got injured, I explored the entire facility (Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru). That is when I realised that this is the time for India to touch new heights in cricket. The facilities were designed for the players. We had not played cricket for three or four months, but it didn’t look like players were coming into the Asia Cup on the back of big gaps, all thanks to BCCI’s facilities.”
(Manas Dasgupta)
