Islamabad, December 22, 2025: Pakistan Under-19 cricket team mentor and former national captain Sarfaraz Ahmed on Monday criticised India over what he described as “unethical conduct” during the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 final, in which Pakistan defeated their arch-rivals in Dubai.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Sarfaraz said, “India’s behaviour regarding the game was not good, and the Indian team’s conduct in cricket was unethical. But we celebrated the victory with sportsmanship, because there should always be sportsmanship in cricket; what India did is their own action.”
The controversy comes amid heightened cricketing tensions between the two countries. During the Asia Cup 2025 matches in September, India’s Suryakumar Yadav refused customary handshakes with Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha and his team. The absence of this traditional gesture drew global attention, with observers citing a lack of sportsmanship. Reports also indicated that the Indian team refused to collect the Asia Cup trophy from ACC President Mohsin Naqvi, reportedly following directives from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Following the team’s historic triumph, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hosted a luncheon at the Prime Minister’s Office and announced generous cash rewards. Each player will receive Rs10 million, while the support staff will be awarded Rs2.5 million. Addressing the team, the premier said, “You gave the opposition a defeat they could not even imagine. You have won the hearts of 240 million people.”
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi praised the players for their focus and discipline, attributing the success to their commitment rather than external distractions. He also highlighted the board’s ongoing plans to establish a High-Performance Centre in Lahore, aimed at providing modern training facilities and nurturing future talent.
The U19 Asia Cup victory and the subsequent recognition reflect Pakistan’s growing strength in youth cricket and the team’s ability to perform under pressure while upholding sportsmanship.
