India skipper Suryakumar Yadav announced that he would donate all his Asia Cup 2025 match fees to the Indian armed forces and the victims of Pahalgam terror attack after leading the Men in Blue to a five-wicket victory over Pakistan in Dubai, securing their ninth continental crown.
“I have decided to donate my match fees from this tournament to support our Armed Forces and the families of the victims who suffered from the Pahalgam terror attack. You always remain in my thoughts,” Surya wrote on X.
Notably, Suryakumar and his men refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts in all three meeting at the Asia Cup.
After India’s seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in the group-stage fixture on September 14, Suryakumar had said, “This is the perfect occasion to take the time out and say that we stand by the victims of the families of Pahalgam terror attack. We express our solidarity. Want to dedicate the win to all our armed forces who showed a lot of bravery. Hope they continue to inspire us all and we give them more reasons on the ground whenever we get an opportunity to put a smile on their face.”
The continental event saw India facing Pakistan on the cricket field for the first time since the heinous Pahalgam terror attack in April this year, which led to India launching Operation Sindoor on terrorist camps across the border.
India outclassed Pakistan in all three games of the Asia Cup. After the title win, they refused to accept the trophy from the Asian Cricket Council president Mohsin Naqvi, who is also Pakistan's interior minister.
India were prepared to receive the trophy from Emirates Cricket Board vice-chairman Khalid Al Zarooni, who was also present on the dais, but Naqvi did not allow this and reportedly took the trophy and winner medal with him.
In the post-match presser, Suryakumar Yadav addressed the controversy, saying: "This is one thing which I have never seen since I have started playing cricket, since I have started following cricket, that a champion team is denied a trophy. That too a hard-earned one, it's not like we got it easily. It was a hard-earned tournament. We were here since the 4th, played two back-to-back good games. I feel we deserved it. I can't say anything more, I think I have summed it up really well, I can't say anything more about it."
He went on to add, "If you tell me about the trophies, my trophies are sitting in the dressing room, all the 14 guys, all the support staff - those are the real trophies who I have been a big fan of throughout this journey of the Asia Cup. Those are the real trophies, the real moments which I am taking back as lovely memories and which will stay forever."
