Salman Ali Agha has reopened the debate surrounding the Asia Cup 2025 handshake controversy, revisiting an incident that attracted widespread attention during last year’s tournament. The episode occurred when India captain Suryakumar Yadav decided not to do the usual pre-match handshake with his Pakistani counterpart. The decision was seen as a gesture of solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam terrorist attackwhich claimed 26 lives and occurred at a time of intense tensions after Operation Sindoor.The stance was not limited to throwing. Indian players also avoided post-match handshakes, keeping focus on the three matches against Pakistanincluding the final, which India won. The issue has resurfaced after Agha spoke about it during an appearance on an ARY podcast.
He revealed that the initial interactions between the two parties had been normal. “Before the tournament there was a press conference in which a handshake was held. During the trophy photo session, we also shook hands. So when I did the draw, I was completely normal. Of course, I had an idea that things wouldn’t be so normal, but I didn’t think it would escalate to the point where there wouldn’t be a handshake. “I didn’t expect that,” Agha said.Agha also shared that he had been informed in advance about the decision. “I went to the toss with my media manager, Naim Bhai. The match referee, I don’t remember his name, took me aside and said, ‘They’re going to do this; there won’t be a handshake, so please keep that in mind.’ I said, ‘If there’s no handshake, so be it.’ It’s not that I was desperate to shake hands. That’s how it happened; he told me beforehand that there wouldn’t be a handshake. “After the match ended, we lost and we were walking towards their pavilion to shake hands, but they still didn’t shake our hands,” he added.Reflecting on the broader impact, Agha highlighted the responsibility that comes with being a public figure. “I have said this many times, I don’t think it is the right thing to do. When we represent a nation, and I play for Pakistan, people look at me. Kids will notice this, and if it happens in a club match the next day, it will be because of me in some way, as I am a part of it. When you are a role model, I think doing these things is important,” he said.The controversy extended beyond interactions on the field. During the post-match presentation of the Asia Cup final, the Indian team refused to receive the trophy from Asian Cricket Council chief Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s Home Minister and heads the Pakistan Cricket Board. The players kept their distance, reflecting disquiet about their role and past comments about India.The ceremony suffered delays and, although individual awards were distributed, the trophy presentation did not take place in its entirety. Naqvi eventually left the venue with the trophy, which India is yet to formally receive despite winning the tournament. India subsequently maintained the same no-handshake approach during the T20 World Cup, indicating that the stance was not a one-off decision but part of an ongoing position.
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