Father of Pahalgam Attack Victim Praises Team India
Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, who lost his life in the Pahalgam terror attack, was honored in spirit by Team India’s bold stance in the Asia Cup 2025 final.
His father, Rajesh Narwal, praised Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav and the team for refusing to collect the Asia Cup trophy from Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who also heads the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and serves as Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President.
Speaking to NDTV, he said:
“Our players and captain Suryakumar Yadav have shown that the nation comes first.”
A Match Played Under High Tensions
India defeated arch-rivals Pakistan by five wickets at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday. But the win came against a backdrop of border tensions following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 tourists.
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Indian players refused handshakes with Pakistani players throughout the tournament.
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The team declined the trophy presentation by Naqvi, sending what many described as a “strong political message.”
Rajesh Narwal said the gesture showed the team’s anger after the terror strike:
“The Indian players don’t hate the Pakistani team or cricket itself. But they needed to send a message to those leaders and military figures in Pakistan who are backing terrorism.”
He also stressed that, ideally, India should not play Pakistan in international cricket as long as the country “supports terrorism.”
Suryakumar Yadav Donates Match Fee to Pahalgam Victims
India’s stand-in captain Suryakumar Yadav added another emotional layer to the victory. After the Asia Cup win, he announced on X (formerly Twitter) that he would donate his entire match fee to the victims of the Pahalgam attack and the Indian armed forces.
“I have decided to donate my match fees from this tournament to support our Armed Forces and the families of the Pahalgam victims. You always remain in my thoughts. Jai Hind,” Yadav posted.
Donation Breakdown:
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T20 international players earn ₹4 lakh per match.
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With 7 matches played, Yadav will donate ₹28 lakh in total.
He had already dedicated India’s group stage victory on September 14 against Pakistan to the victims and soldiers.
ICC Fine and BCCI’s Protest
Pakistan had previously accused Suryakumar Yadav of making political statements during the tournament.
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The ICC fined him 30% of his match fee after a complaint from Pakistan.
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The BCCI challenged the fine, with Yadav pleading not guilty at the ICC hearing last week.
Despite the controversy, Yadav’s decision to contribute financially and symbolically strengthened his image as both a sportsman and patriot.
