Dubai, September 28: What should have been a proud night for Asian cricket turned into an unprecedented controversy when India, after defeating Pakistan in the final of the Asia Cup 2025 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, refused to accept the winners’ trophy from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman, Mohsin Naqvi. The incident left the cricketing fraternity stunned and has sparked a heated debate about sportsmanship, respect, and politics overshadowing the gentleman’s game.
Match Recap: Pakistan Falter, India Chase Steadily
Batting first, Pakistan posted 146 runs in 19.1 overs, a total that looked competitive after early boundaries but soon collapsed under pressure. Despite brisk starts from the top order, India’s bowlers struck regularly to halt Pakistan’s momentum.
In response, India managed to chase down the target in 19.4 overs with five wickets remaining. Young star Tilak Varma emerged as the hero of the chase, scoring an unbeaten 69 under pressure. The victory gave India their ninth Asia Cup title, further strengthening their dominance in the regional tournament.
The Trophy Snub: Ceremony Descends into Chaos
However, the cricket soon became secondary. After the final delivery, celebrations were subdued, and the trophy presentation usually the highlight of the evening descended into chaos.
The ceremony was delayed by over an hour, with officials seen moving the trophy off the stage. When Mohsin Naqvi, also serving as Pakistan’s Interior Minister, stepped forward for the handover, the Indian players flatly refused to accept the trophy or medals from his hands.
They did, however, accept their individual awards from other dignitaries, making it clear that their refusal was directed at Naqvi himself. In a bizarre turn, India’s cricketers were later seen mimicking the act of lifting an “imaginary trophy” as they posed for team photographs.
Reactions From Pakistan
The incident was met with disappointment in Pakistan. National captain Salman Agha said the refusal was “deeply disrespectful” to the sport, stressing that trophies symbolize more than political differences.
Former captain Shoaib Malik went further, declaring:
“This will haunt them. India might have won the match, but they lost the spirit of cricket. History will remember this act of arrogance.”
PCB officials echoed the sentiment, emphasizing that the Asia Cup belongs to all of Asia and that India’s behavior undermined the dignity of the tournament.
Reactions From India
On the Indian side, captain Suryakumar Yadav expressed dissatisfaction with how the situation was handled, claiming his team was “denied” the chance to lift the cup. While maintaining that their real trophy was the hard-fought journey and effort on the field, he added:
“I have never seen this in my career that a champion team is denied the moment to celebrate with the trophy. I feel we deserved it.”
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia later clarified that the team had taken a decision not to accept the trophy from Naqvi because of his dual political and cricketing role. The Indian board is reportedly preparing to lodge a protest with the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Analysts: Politics Overshadowing Cricket
Observers across the region noted the incident as unprecedented. While sports have often been impacted by the tense political relationship between India and Pakistan, never before has a trophy ceremony itself been boycotted.
Analysts pointed out that while India may have made a political statement, they risk being remembered for disrespecting a regional cricketing tradition. The image of an absent trophy in the hands of champions is already being described as a low point in the history of the Asia Cup.
The Bigger Picture
The Asia Cup is meant to celebrate cricketing unity in the region, but the 2025 final has highlighted widening divisions. Instead of celebrating the spectacle of a closely fought India–Pakistan final, headlines worldwide are now dominated by the trophy snub.
For Pakistan, the moment reinforced the sentiment that India allowed politics to interfere with the game. For India, the stance is being defended as a matter of principle. But for millions of cricket fans across Asia, the evening will be remembered not for Tilak Varma’s heroics, but for the absence of the trophy in the champions’ hands.
