Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha found himself in an awkward spotlight after the Asia Cup 2025 final when cameras caught him seemingly tossing aside the Runners-Up cheque on his way to the post-match presentation. While it remains unclear whether he deliberately threw it or simply set it aside, the moment sparked plenty of chatter among fans and media.
The drama followed India’s thrilling five-wicket win over Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium. Facing questions later, Salman admitted at the press conference that the defeat was extremely hard to digest. Pakistan had India on the ropes at different stages of the contest, but a composed effort from Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, and Shivam Dube ensured the Men in Blue crossed the finish line.
Earlier in the evening, Pakistan’s batting effort began on a promising note. Opener Sahibzada Farhan registered a fine half-century and, alongside Fakhar Zaman, stitched together an 84-run partnership that gave the Men in Green a solid platform. At 84/0, Pakistan looked well placed to post a competitive total.
salman ali agha received and throw away runner-up award. #PakistanCricket #INDvPAK #PakVsInd pic.twitter.com/TgBIh9e5tJ
— Moosa (@ImMoss0) September 28, 2025
However, once Farhan fell after a well-made 57, Pakistan’s innings nosedived. The middle order failed to withstand the pressure from India’s spin trio, and the side collapsed dramatically. What seemed like a potential score of over 170 was reduced to a modest total that left their bowlers with too little to defend against a confident Indian batting lineup.
In the end, the loss—and the image of Salman Ali Agha’s cheque moment—captured the heartbreak for Pakistan. What could have been a historic win over their fiercest rivals turned into a missed opportunity, with India lifting the trophy. For Salman and his side, the memory of the final will sting for a long time, both for the collapse on the field and the awkward scenes off it.