The Saim Ayub baby celebration has become one of the most talked-about moments from the India-Pakistan men’s cricket final at the Asian Games 2026. What looked like a routine wicket celebration quickly became a talking point after Pakistan’s all-rounder appeared to make a baby-cradle gesture following the dismissal of India’s teenage batter Vaibhav Suryavanshi.
The incident attracted plenty of criticism because of Vaibhav’s age. More significantly, even former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal was unhappy with the way his country’s player celebrated.
Akmal’s comments have added another layer to an already heated India-Pakistan cricket story, with the former Pakistan international making it clear that players should be judged more by their performances than by moments designed to create attention on social media.
What happened between Saim Ayub and Vaibhav Suryavanshi?
India faced Pakistan in the men’s cricket gold-medal match at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin on October 3. India chose to bat first and eventually posted 211/6 from their 20 overs.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi opened the innings and produced a quick cameo. The 15-year-old struck two sixes during his nine-ball stay and scored 15 runs before Saim Ayub dismissed him.
According to the official scorecard, Vaibhav was caught by Usman Khan off Ayub’s bowling.
The dismissal itself was perfectly normal. It was the celebration that changed the mood.
After taking the wicket, Ayub appeared to perform a baby-cradle gesture. The celebration was widely interpreted as a reference to Vaibhav’s young age. The Indian youngster, however, did not react and simply walked back towards the dressing room.
The moment quickly spread across social media, where fans from both countries debated whether such a celebration was appropriate in an international final.
Kamran Akmal takes aim at his own player
While criticism from Indian fans was expected given the rivalry, Kamran Akmal’s reaction attracted particular attention.
Speaking during a discussion on the Game Plan show, Akmal was asked about Ayub’s celebration. His response was blunt.
He argued that Pakistan’s performances have not been good enough, while players are still producing the kind of content that works on social media.
Akmal’s central message was simple: international cricketers should concentrate on their cricket rather than looking for moments that can generate online attention.
He also pointed out that Ayub is not a child himself. According to Akmal, the fact that Vaibhav is 15 should not become an excuse for an experienced international cricketer to behave differently. He urged Pakistan’s management to think about how its players conduct themselves on the international stage.
That criticism is significant because Akmal did not defend Ayub simply because he is a Pakistani player. Instead, he focused on professionalism and performance.
Vaibhav stayed quiet, but India did the talking
Interestingly, Vaibhav did not respond to the celebration on the field.
The teenager had a relatively short stay at the crease, but the bigger story of the evening was India’s response with the bat.
After Vaibhav’s dismissal, Abhishek Sharma took charge. The left-hander smashed 61 from only 28 balls, including seven sixes, to put Pakistan under serious pressure.
Tilak Varma then produced another explosive finish, remaining unbeaten on 51 from just 22 deliveries. India eventually reached 211/6, the highest team total of the men’s cricket competition.
Pakistan’s reply was led by Hasan Nawaz, who played an outstanding innings of 96 from 51 balls. Saim Ayub also contributed 29 from 22 balls and was involved in an 87-run partnership with Hasan that briefly brought Pakistan back into the contest.
But India’s bowlers held their nerve at the crucial moments.
Pakistan finished on 192/6, giving India a 19-run victory and another Asian Games men’s cricket gold medal.
So, despite Ayub taking the key wicket of Vaibhav, the final result ultimately belonged to India.
The bigger lesson from the Saim Ayub celebration
The debate surrounding the Saim Ayub baby celebration is bigger than one gesture.
Cricket has always included celebrations, sledging and moments of emotion. Players are entitled to enjoy wickets and important victories. But the modern game is also played under the constant gaze of social media, where even a few seconds can become a viral story.
That creates a difficult balance.
A celebration can energise a team, entertain supporters and add personality to a match. But when it appears to target a much younger opponent, it can also invite criticism.
That is perhaps why Akmal’s comments have attracted so much attention. His argument was not that players should stop celebrating. Rather, his concern appeared to be about priorities: perform first, create headlines later.
For Pakistan, the final itself provided plenty of evidence for that argument. Ayub did dismiss Vaibhav, but India still reached 211 and Pakistan eventually fell short despite Hasan Nawaz’s brilliant 96.
India finish Asian Games 2026 with 21 gold medals
The cricket final was also part of a hugely successful overall campaign for India.
The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games concluded on October 4, with shooter Neeru Dhanda carrying India’s flag during the closing ceremony. Dhanda had already enjoyed an excellent Games, winning two gold medals and a silver.
India finished fourth in the medal table with 85 medals: 21 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze. The country also won gold medals in both men’s and women’s cricket, completing an impressive cricket double.
The men’s gold was particularly significant because India defeated Pakistan in the final, while the women’s team had earlier secured gold after beating Sri Lanka.
For Vaibhav, the tournament also provided another important milestone. At just 15, he became one of the youngest Indian cricketers to feature in such a major multi-sport event and returned home with an Asian Games gold medal.
The Saim Ayub celebration may dominate the headlines for a few days, but the bigger story is that India’s young players were able to handle the pressure of an India-Pakistan final and finish on top.
For Pakistan, meanwhile, the silver medal came after a strong campaign, but the final showed that the team still has areas to improve.
In the end, the scoreboard provided the clearest answer. India scored 211, Pakistan managed 192, and the gold medal went to India.
The social-media debate around Saim Ayub’s celebration will eventually fade. The result of the final, however, will remain in the record books.
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