Pakistani Captains Donate Match Fees to Conflict Victims

By atish

September 30, 2025

The recently concluded Asia Cup 2025 cricket tournament, which saw India crowned champion after defeating Pakistan, has been overshadowed by political tensions, with both teams’ captains announcing they will donate their match fees to civilians affected by military conflicts between the two nations.

Heartfelt Gestures from Both Captains

Following India’s victory in the final held in Dubai on September 28, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav started the trend by announcing he would donate his entire match fee from the tournament to the Indian Armed Forces and the families of the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack that occurred in Jammu and Kashmir in April .

“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. Jai Hind,” Yadav posted on social media platform X .

In a tit-for-tat move, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha announced that his entire team would also donate their match fees to what he described as the “civilians and children” affected during India’s military response, Operation Sindoor, which was launched a fortnight after the Pahalgam attack .

“As a team, we have decided to donate our match fees to the civilians and children affected by India’s attack,” Agha stated at a post-match press conference .

The Financial Donations

The table below summarizes the donations announced by both captains:

Captain Team Donation Recipient Reported Amount
Suryakumar Yadav India Indian Armed Forces & Pahalgam attack victims ₹28 Lakhs (approx. $33,500 USD)
Salman Ali Agha Pakistan Civilians affected by “Operation Sindoor” Entire team’s match fees; specific amount not disclosed

A Bitter End to the Tournament

The grand finale of the tournament was marked by controversy off the field. Reports indicate that the Indian team refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief, Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board and is Pakistan’s Interior Minister .

This led to a delayed and awkward presentation ceremony where the Indian team did not receive the trophy on stage. The Indian cricket board (BCCI) later confirmed the team’s refusal to accept the trophy from Naqvi .

Furthermore, the Indian team chose not to participate in the traditional handshakes with the Pakistani team after their matches throughout the tournament. Captain Suryakumar Yadav explained that this was a gesture of respect for the armed forces and solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam attack .

Captains Exchange Criticism

The post-match events drew strong criticism from the Pakistani captain. Salman Ali Agha described India’s actions as “disappointing” and disrespectful to the sport of cricket itself .

“They are not disrespecting us by not shaking hands, they are disrespecting cricket. Good teams don’t do what they did,” Agha told reporters . He also expressed concern about the negative message being sent to young fans in both countries .

The Indian perspective, as highlighted in some reports, was that the team played with professionalism and composure, letting their “cricket do the talking” .

A Rivalry Beyond the Boundary

The 2025 Asia Cup will be remembered not just for India’s on-field victory, but for how deeply political and military tensions spilled into the sporting arena. The competing charitable gestures and the breakdown of traditional sportsmanship rituals highlight the fragile relationship between the two neighboring nations, proving that even in sports, their conflicts are never far from the surface.