The Asia Cup 2025 final in Dubai produced not just a thrilling India-Pakistan match but also unprecedented off-field drama that eclipsed the sport itself. But the presentation after the match took a backseat to cricket. Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha tossed away his winner's cheque in anger and soon after announced that the side would be donating their match fees to "civilians and children who have been martyred in the Indian attack," an obvious reference to India's Operation Sindoor. It got worse after the Indian team vetoed stepping onto the presentation podium, with them allowing Emirates Cricket Board vice-chairman Khalid Al Zarooni alone to present the trophy. Publics in the stands further escalated the tension by chanting nationalistic slogans.
Netizens reactions
The announcement provoked polarized reactions on social media. The gesture was decried as improper and politically motivated by critics.
@TimesAlgebraIND posted on X - BIG NEWS ???? Defeated Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha announced that the team will donate their Asia Cup final match fees to terrorists and the families impacted by India’s “Operation Sindoor.”
An X user, @GemsOfIndia_X commented there, "Match fees? They should first win a match before planning philanthropy.”
Another user @jinxXedhere also wrote, " This is exactly what people were concerned about from the start. Whatever money Pakistan earns from this tournament will end up in the hands of te®rørists and be used against us in cross-border terrør.”
@sunil003singh added - “This is nothing new. They've done this before. Terrorist camps run on donations. The people there take a large share of it. They don't care. That's why Pakistan is called a terrorist state.”
On the other hand, many Pakistani fans lauded Agha’s decision as a humanitarian act.
@RayhamUnplugged posted a video quoting Agha: “We are donating our match fees to the civilians and the children who were martyred in the Indian attack - What an amazing gesture "
@Mumtaaj08 added, “We are donating our match fees to the civilians and the children that were martyred in the Indian attack- What a wonderful statement. He won our hearts."
@cutehunmee echoed similar sentiments posting, “Pakistan cricket team captain Salman Ali Agha has donated his runner-up and all Asia Cup match fees to the civilian affected victims who were martyred during the Indian cowardly aggression."
Asia Cup 2025 final will thus be remembered not just for India's win and Tilak Varma's match-winning heroics but also for the unprecedented post-match incidents which crossed the line between sport, politics, and patriotism.
