After defeating Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 final held in Dubai, the Indian cricket team declined to accept the trophy, which was set to be presented by Mohsin Naqvi, the president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), who also holds positions as the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Pakistan’s Interior Minister.
“We have decided not to take the Asia Cup trophy from the ACC chairman, who happens to be one of the main leaders of Pakistan,” stated BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia. He also emphasized, “This does not mean that the gentleman will take the trophy with him, along with the medals. It is unfortunate, and we hope the trophy and the medals will be returned to India as soon as possible.”
Saikia mentioned that during the forthcoming ICC conference in Dubai this November, India would lodge a “very serious and very strong protest” against the actions of the ACC chairperson. The match concluded around 10:30 p.m. local time, but the presentation ceremony was delayed until nearly midnight, with the initial reasons for the delay remaining unclear. Speculation quickly arose regarding the Indian team’s reluctance to accept the trophy from Naqvi, especially after he made “provocative” social media posts.
According to a statement posted on the ACC’s website, Naqvi was confirmed to be presenting the trophy to the winners. After the ceremony finally began, players Kuldeep Yadav, Abhishek Sharma, and Tilak Varma collected individual awards from other dignitaries on stage but deliberately avoided acknowledging Naqvi, while Pakistan’s captain, Salman Agha, received the runners-up cheque from him.
“The Indian cricket team will not be collecting their awards tonight,” presenter Simon Doull announced during the ceremony, leading to the conclusion of the post-match presentation. Following the interviews, while dignitaries exited, the Indian team took to the podium and celebrated their victory without the trophy, with Captain Suryakumar Yadav and his teammates lifting an imaginary trophy during their celebrations.
In a press conference, Yadav expressed incredulity: “This is one thing I have never seen since I started playing or even following cricket, that a champion team is denied a trophy, that too a hard-earned one. I feel we deserved it.” He added that the decision to decline the trophy was made collectively by the team, without external influence.
The tournament has been marked by controversies, particularly exacerbated by tensions following a deadly attack in Pahalgam. Prior to the final, India lodged a formal complaint with the ICC against Pakistan players Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan for making provocative gestures during a match. Meanwhile, the PCB filed a counter-complaint against Yadav.
During the tournament, Rauf made gestures that mocked India’s military actions and reportedly verbally attacked Indian openers Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma. Videos of his actions evoked widespread backlash from Indian fans. Farhan’s celebration, involving a gun-firing gesture with his bat, drew similar condemnation.
Both Rauf and Yadav were found guilty of breaching the ICC’s code of conduct during the Asia Cup and were fined 30% of their match fees by match referee Richie Richardson.
This marks a significant and contentious moment in cricketing relations between the two nations.
Tags: India, Asia Cup, trophy, ACC president, Mohsin Naqvi
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