The controversies around the Asia Cup, particularly India vs Pakistan, has been escalating with every game. After the handshake row in the first game to Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan’s gestures to the entire saga of trophy collection after India’s win in the final. After the Asia Cup triumph, India refused to collect trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi as he also happens to be the chief of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and an Interior Minister of Pakistan.
Now, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha has put forward his views and has lambasted India for not just respecting Pakistan but also not respecting cricket. He has also revealed that Suryakumar Yadav shook hands with him in private but didn’t do it in front of the cameras.
Salman Ali Agha’s big reveal
For those unaware, India and Pakistan met thrice in the tournament but there were no customary handshakes between the players of both the camps. India denied shaking hands after the first game and the trend continues. This was due to the backlash the Indian players received at home after Suryakumar greeted Naqvi and Salman at the captain’s day on the first day of the tournament.
“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,” Salman said in the post-match press conference to the reporters.
India disrespected cricket?
Salman was quite adamant about being against India’s approach to disassociate with Pakistan. He said that India didn’t leave with a great example by not shaking hands. He explained that Pakistan went onto the podium to receive the runner up’s medal because they didn’t want to disrespect the game. He also supported the narrative that how could’ve India received the trophy if they denied to take it from the ACC President.
“What India have done this tournament is very disappointing. They’re not disrespecting us by not shaking hands, they’re disrespecting cricket. Good teams don’t do what they did today. We went to pose with the trophy on our own because we wanted to fulfill our obligations. We stood there and took our medals. I don’t want to use harsh words but they’ve been very disrespectful.”
After Rinku Singh pulled off his manifestation of hitting the winning runs of the tournament, there was an almost 100-min delay for the post match presentation ceremony which usually takes not more than 20-30 minutes. At the ceremony, several Indian players received awards but India denied to collect the trophy from the hands of Naqvi. Instead of completing the formalities by assigning a non-Pakistani to handover the trophy to India, the ACC ended the ceremony prematurely and India didn’t receive their deserving trophy.
“This is the first time I’ve ever seen this happen,” Agha said. “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?”
Editor's Pick
Cricket
How Virat Kohli's 100 in Ranchi resulted in tickets for IND vs SA 3rd ODI getting sold out instantly
Top Stories
