Tilak Varma`s childhood cricket coach, Salam Bayash, publicly supported the Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian team`s decision not to exchange handshakes with the Pakistan team following the Asia Cup 2025 final. In an exclusive interview, Bayash highly praised Tilak, who scored an unbeaten 69 runs, helping India successfully chase down a target of 147 against Pakistan in Dubai. Bayash also addressed the handshake controversy, stating that the Indian team acted entirely appropriately by not engaging with the Pakistani side.
“They talk about the `spirit of cricket,` but we cannot forget the pain our country went through,” Bayash emphasized during the interview.
India secured a five-wicket victory over Pakistan, clinching their ninth Asia Cup title in the tournament`s history.
After the match, the Indian team declined to accept the winners` trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, chairman of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and a Pakistani minister.
Speculations were widespread before the final that Indian players might refuse the trophy from Naqvi, who also serves as the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, an interior minister of his country, and is known for his anti-India stance.
As the head of the continental body, Naqvi was well within his rights to present the trophy and engage in customary handshakes with both squads. However, the Indian team chose to maintain its policy of “no handshakes” and no off-field engagement with anyone from Pakistan.
In recent days, Naqvi had twice posted cryptic video messages on `X` (formerly Twitter). One such message featured a Cristiano Ronaldo goal celebration depicting a plane crash – a similar gesture that controversial bowler Haris Rauf had repeatedly made during the Super 4s game against India on September 21, resulting in a fine for him.
