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"Unethical attitude": Sarfaraz lectures India on sportsmanship after U19 Asia Cup final

Akshita Patel

Sarfaraz Ahmed slams India [Source: @MDRaju_Live, @crickethub_pk/X.com]Sarfaraz Ahmed slams India [Source: @MDRaju_Live, @crickethub_pk/X.com]

Pakistan U19 team mentor and former national captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has strongly criticised India’s conduct during the U19 Asia Cup 2025 final. He deemed the opposition's attitude “unethical” and against the spirit of the game.

On December 21, Pakistan defeated India convincingly by 191 runs in the final held in Dubai, securing the title after a long wait. However, tensions between the two arch-rivals flared up multiple times.

Sarfaraz Ahmed opposes India U19 players’ aggression 

During the final, Ayush Mhatre and Vaibhav Suryavanshi had a verbal altercation with Pakistan players who were celebrating their wickets aggressively. 

Both sides were aggressive and pumped but Sarfaraz Ahmed gave a biased statement during the press conference held in Pakistan on December 22.

Sarfaraz Ahmed expressed disappointment with the Indian team’s behaviour and said cricket should always be played with respect and sportsmanship, regardless of rivalry or external issues.

He called the Indian side unethical and justified Pakistan’s over-the-top celebrations.

"India’s attitude during the game was not good & that their conduct on the field was unethical. We celebrated our win with proper sportsmanlike spirit. Whatever India did was their personal choice, but cricket should always be played with respect & sportsmanship," Ahmed told press.

Notably, India refused to shake hands with Pakistan and even collected their runners-up medals from ICC associate member official, thus ignoring ACC and PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi.

Similar events took place at the senior Asia Cup 2025

This no-handshake policy was first seen in the senior Men’s Asia Cup 2025 held in September. 

Indian players avoided the customary post-match handshakes with Pakistan’s captain, Salman Agha, and other team members during three matches in the tournament, including the final. 

Adding to the controversy, the Indian team declined to collect the Asia Cup trophy from Mohsin Naqvi after the final. Irked and embarrassed by the move, Naqvi stole the trophy from the stadium and denied giving it to deserving winners.