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Former Team India wicket-keeper batter Syed Kirmani has advised Suryakumar Yadav and his men to keep politics away from cricket. During the Asia Cup 2025, when India and Pakistan played against each other, the defending champions refused to shake hands with their opponents. This gesture was done by India to boycott Pakistan, which is accused as a nation for facilitating the Pahalgam attack on April 22. Before the final, Suryakumar Yadav also didn’t pose for a trophy photoshoot with his counterpart Salman Ali Agha, while after winning the title, the defending champions refused to receive the trophy and medals from Mohsin Naqvi, who is not just ACC Chief but also PCB President.
Noting these incidents, Kirmani has expressed his discontent over Suryakumar's team’s protest against Pakistan. The 1983 World Cup champion feels sports and politics shouldn’t be mixed. “I'm ashamed to listen to the comments. 'What's happened to the current era of cricketers? What has happened at the Asia Cup is disgusting' - These are the words that have come onto my messages... It is very depressing to me the way things are going on in the sporting field, particularly in cricket... It is not the right thing that has happened. Politics should not enter sports in general. Leave politics behind. Whatever has transpired away from the sporting field, leave it there itself,” said Kirmani while speaking to ANI.
Team India’s domination over Pakistan in the Asia Cup
Besides controversies, the Asia Cup 2025 will be remembered for India’s domination over Pakistan. During the tournament, India thumped the Men in Green three times. Noting such commanding performances, there is a large section of Pakistan supporters who feels Team India plays a fierce brand of cricket while Salman Ali Agha and his boys will have to work hard to compete with their arch-rivals.
Pakistan’s T20I record against India has become worse as the T20 World Cup 2009 champions have recorded 12 defeats after 15 outings. Their last win against the Men in Blue came in 2022 when they beat India by five wickets in the Asia Cup 2022 in Dubai.
