Asia Cup 2025: Sunil Gavaskar shredded Salman Ali Agha for skipping the post-match interview

Amid the handshake row, Gavaskar tore into the Pakistan captain for skipping the post-match presentation.

The India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 fixture on Sunday in Dubai delighted Indian fans as India defeated Pakistan. Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav and the team chose not to shake hands with Pakistan players and dedicated the win to the Indian armed forces for Operation Sindoor after the heinous Pahalgam terror attack. However, this didn’t sit well with the Pakistani players, and their captain, Salman Ali Agha, chose to skip the post-match presentation.

Sunil Gavaskar tears into Salman Ali Agha and team for skipping the post-match presentation.

Sunil Gavaskar minced no words as he tore into Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha for skipping the post-match presentation, in the aftermath of the no-handshake controversy in the Asia Cup Group A match between the two countries in Dubai. Agha and coach Mike Hesson had approached the Indian dressing room for post-match handshakes only to find the door being shut on them. This left the Pakistan camp miffed, as Agha decided to skip the post-match presentation conducted by former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar.

What did Sunil Gavaskar say on the matter?

Gavaskar on India Today said, “Sports and politics have never been separate, you only need to look back over the years to see that. I wouldn’t criticise someone for taking that stance, and I wouldn’t want to get into a debate about it. When you start discussing political references, you get into policies and complexities that are frankly beyond my pay grade.” He added, “I don’t think it made much difference anyway; people mainly wanted to hear what the winning captain had to say, not excuses from the other side.”

The no-handshake controversy has led the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to lodge an official complaint with the ICC, requesting the removal of the match referee for the remainder of the Asia Cup. It also threatened to withdraw from the Asia Cup if its demands were not met. On this, Gavaskar said, “I didn’t actually see it myself, but ultimately it’s up to each individual what they want to do. On the field, there are times when people abuse you and say things that aren’t acceptable. If someone has been calling you names, asking that you go and shake hands with them is too much to expect.” He added, “I don’t know exactly what happened on the field or whether words were exchanged, but if an individual decides not to shake hands, they are perfectly within their rights to do so.”