Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav, who led his team to victory in the Asia Cup, made a heartfelt announcement regarding his match fees. He stated that he would be donating his earnings from the tournament to the Indian Armed Forces and the families of victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. “I have decided to give my match fees from this tournament to support the armed forces and the families of the victims who lost their lives in the Pahalgam terror attack. You always remain in my thoughts,” Yadav shared on social media. Throughout the tournament, he emphasized this message. Yadav notably refused to shake hands with Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha three times during the matches, including the final.
Following India’s group-stage win over Pakistan, he remarked, “This is the perfect occasion to take the time out and say that we stand by the families of the Pahalgam terror attack victims. We express our solidarity and dedicate this win to our Armed Forces who displayed extraordinary courage. We hope to keep supporting them and give them more reasons to smile through our performances on the field.” The Asia Cup held special significance for the Indian team, marking their first match against Pakistan since the tragic Pahalgam terror attacks in April. India also conducted a retaliatory strike across the border in May following the incident. They made a strong statement by defeating Pakistan in all three matches they played.
Yadav, addressing the media after the final match, commented, “I have never seen a champion team not receive a trophy. We deserved it.”
