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- India launched missiles on multiple sites across Pakistan on May 7, claiming to hit militant targets which Islamabad said was false
- Controversy ensued after India beat Pakistan in Asia Cup final and refused to accept trophy from ACC President Mohsin Naqvi
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan cricket team has decided to dedicate its Asia Cup final match fees to the “innocent victims” of the May 7 attack launched by India, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Monday, as political tensions continued to dominate the tournament even after it concluded.
India beat arch-rivals Pakistan by five wickets in the thrilling Asia Cup final on Sunday night. However, controversy ensued after the Indian cricket team refused to accept the trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the PCB chairman and Pakistan’s interior minister. Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav said at the post-match press conference that India were “denied” the trophy while Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha said India had “disrespected” cricket by their actions.
Tensions dominated the Asia Cup tournament right from its onset, which saw the two arch-rivals meet on the cricket field for the first time after their militaries engaged in a brief confrontation in May this year. Over 70 people were killed on both sides of the border after the two countries targeted each other with fighter jets, artillery fire, drones and missiles. The confrontation began on May 7 after India launched missile and air strikes on multiple sites across Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, saying it had targeted militants. Pakistan denied the allegations, saying only innocent civilians were killed and claimed it shot down six Indian jets in response the same night.
“The Pakistan Cricket Team has dedicated its Asia Cup final match fees to the innocent victims martyred in the May 7 attack, in which civilians, including children, lost their lives,” the PCB wrote on social media platform X. “Our thoughts and prayers are with their families.”
India’s stance to not accept the Asia Cup trophy from Naqvi was expected well in advance. Indian cricketers had refused to shake hands with Pakistan in any of the three games they played this tournament, either at the toss between the captains or after the matches.
Pakistan coach Mike Hesson and Agha both criticized India for it but India did not change its position. Things became heated, especially during the second game in the Super Four stage of the cup between the two teams, with several verbal spats between the sides. Yadav was fined for remarks he made following the first game while Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf for his actions in the second.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told Indian news agency ANI that the team had decided not to accept the trophy from Naqvi as he was “one of the main leaders from Pakistan.”
“But that does not mean that the gentleman will take away the trophy with him, along with the medals,” the BCCI official said on Sunday, according to ESPNcricinfo. “So it is very unfortunate and we hope that the trophy and the medals will be returned to India as soon as possible.”
Saikia said the BCCI will lodge “a very serious and very strong protest” at the next ICC conference in Dubai against Naqvi’s actions.