Suryakumar Yadav May Refuse Trophy From Pakistan Cricket Board Chief If India Wins Asia Cup, Says Report
Suryakumar Yadav May Refuse Trophy From Pakistan Cricket Board Chief If India Wins Asia Cup, Says Report
India captain’s political stand adds tension to high-stakes tournament finale on September 28
India’s Asia Cup campaign has taken a dramatic turn off the pitch, with reports suggesting that captain Suryakumar Yadav may refuse to accept the winner’s trophy from Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Mohsin Naqvi if India clinches the title on September 28.
The controversy deepened after Yadav pointedly avoided a handshake with Pakistan captain Salman Agha at the toss, a move interpreted as a symbolic protest. Following India’s win, Yadav dedicated the victory to the Armed Forces in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, saying: “Few things in life are above a sportsman’s spirit. We stand with the victims and dedicate this win to our soldiers.”
Sources in the BCCI revealed that the decision to avoid customary pleasantries was taken after deliberations with senior players and head coach Gautam Gambhir. Pakistan’s team manager, Naved Cheema, has already lodged a complaint with the ACC over the incident, adding to tensions.
The episode echoes other moments in international sport where politics overshadowed protocol — such as Ukrainian tennis star Elina Svitolina’s refusal to shake hands with Belarus’s Victoria Azarenka at Wimbledon 2023.
As the Asia Cup final approaches, the spotlight is not only on the cricket but also on the symbolism of the post-match presentation. If India emerges victorious, the presentation ceremony could witness a highly charged snub that underscores how deeply cricket in the subcontinent is intertwined with geopolitics.
