ASIA CUP FINAL, 2025
India declined to receive the trophy from the ACC President and PCB Chairman © Getty
The Indian cricket team chose not to collect the Asia Cup trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president and chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), following their victory over Pakistan in the final held in Dubai. Despite Naqvi’s insistence on personally handing over the trophy, the Indian team left without it, resulting in a surprising outcome.
The award presentation was delayed for over an hour and a half after Rinku Singh scored the winning runs. It was reported that the delay stemmed from a standoff: India refused to accept the trophy from Naqvi, who remained steadfast in his stance. By the time the presentation was about to be broadcast, the trophy had already been removed from the field.
While some Indian players collected sponsor rewards, the team did not receive their winner’s medals or the trophy. Meanwhile, the Pakistan squad collected their runners-up medals and proceeded back to their dressing room without further ado.
The situation escalated when the Pakistan team went straight into their dressing room after India won, complicating their scheduled press activities. The post-match presentation party, including Naqvi, was left waiting for over 35 minutes. During this time, Naqvi was seen making several animated phone calls.
Eventually, the Emirates Cricket Board and BCB officials were ready to present the trophy to India, but Naqvi’s refusal to let anyone else do so led to no presentation taking place at all. When the Pakistani team finally emerged from their dressing room amidst boos from the Indian crowd, the ceremony was delayed further.
In a post-match press conference, India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav expressed frustration over the denial of the trophy, emphasizing that the team’s hard work warranted recognition. Despite the unusual conclusion to the event, the Indian team’s performances throughout the tournament affirmed their deserving victory.
© Cricbuzz
