Salman Agha accuses India of 'disrespecting cricket'

Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha accused India of "disrespecting" the game of cricket during the Asia Cup, sharpening the fallout from a series marred by disputes on and off the field.

"What happened in this tournament, I think it is very disappointing," Agha said at the post-match press conference after India beat Pakistan by five wickets. "If you look at it, they feel that by not shaking hands, they are disrespecting us but in fact they are disrespecting cricket. And anyone who disrespects cricket, I think it comes back and I am very sure that it will happen.

"What they have done today, I think a good team doesn't do this. Good teams do what we have done; we went alone and posed with the trophy and even after the loss, we stood there and took our medals. I don't want to use very harsh words but to be very honest, this is very disrespectful to the game, not anyone else."

The Pakistan captain also defended his team's decision to cancel multiple pre-match press conferences, saying it was a direct response to India's conduct.

"Yes, there was no pre-match press conference at times but those things that happened after whatever happened on the ground. We were not the ones to start. And, to be honest, it is not about who is doing it, whatever is happening is bad for the game of cricket."

The controversy over handshakes, which began on September 14 when India refused to shake hands with Pakistan players, has lingered beyond the tournament. Pakistan responded by skipping the post-match presentation that night, while head coach Mike Hesson expressed his displeasure in a press conference.

"He did shake hands with me when we were doing the captains' press conference [before the start of the tournament]," Agha said of Suryakumar Yadav. "He shook my hands even during our meeting with the match referee. But he doesn't do it when he's in front of everyone. I am sure, if it was up to him, he'd have done it. He's just doing what he's been instructed, which is fine."

Agha suggested that India's actions risk sending the wrong message to the next generation of fans.

"Say I am not the captain of Pakistan, even just as a cricket fan, I will not second what's happening because it is wrong. To a kid sitting at home, whether he/she is from Pakistan or India, what message are we sending? We are not giving a good message because people think of us as role models, so if we start behaving like this as role models then we are not inspiring anyone. And if we are inspiring, then we are inspiring them about the wrong things.

"I am saying this again, whatever happened was wrong and it should not have happened. So those who did it should be questioned."