As the Asia Cup 2025 inches closer to its finale, the big question dominating headlines isn’t just about cricket – it’s about what happens after the final ball is bowled.
With India storming into top form and looking like clear contenders for the title, another question is taking centre stage:
If India wins the final will PCB Chairman and ACC President Mohsin Naqvi hand them the trophy?
It’s a moment steeped in tradition, usually symbolic of unity and celebration. But given the rising off-field tensions between India and Pakistan after their fiery group-stage clash in Dubai, that ceremonial moment now hangs in uncertainty.
No Handshakes, No Peace
The tension began on Sunday during the India vs Pakistan clash. While India registered a clinical 7-wicket win, the post-match headlines were hijacked by what didn’t happen – no handshakes.
Indian players walked off the field without exchanging the customary handshake with the Pakistani side. Captain Suryakumar Yadav later clarified that the decision was a mark of solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people were killed. He stated that the gesture wasn’t meant to offend the Pakistani players, but rather to stand with grieving families.
However, the move didn’t sit well with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). In fact, things escalated quickly.
Also Read: PCB Files Complaint with ICC Over ‘No Handshake’ Controversy in India-Pakistan Asia Cup Clash
Naqvi Demands Referee’s Removal
The PCB filed a formal complaint with the ICC, accusing match referee Andy Pycroft of violating the spirit of cricket. They claim Pycroft told Pakistani captain Salman Ali Agha not to expect a handshake at the toss – an instruction allegedly passed down from the Indian side.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi – who also serves as President of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has called for Pycroft’s immediate removal from the tournament. The board has gone so far as to threaten a boycott of their upcoming match against the UAE if their concerns aren’t addressed.
With tensions this high, the prospect of Naqvi stepping onto the podium to hand India the trophy now feels uncertain, if not impossible.
A Tradition Under Question
Traditionally, the ACC President presents the Asia Cup trophy to the winning team. But the current political and cricketing climate has made that a potential flashpoint.
Would Naqvi be willing to hand the trophy to Suryakumar Yadav and his team just days after accusing them and the ICC of violating cricket’s core values?
And from India’s side, would they be comfortable accepting it from a man who publicly criticized their post-match conduct and filed formal complaints?
These are no longer hypothetical scenarios – they are very real possibilities, and they could define how this edition of the Asia Cup is remembered.
All Eyes on the Podium
As the final approaches, the cricketing world will be watching – not just for sixes, wickets, and drama but for what happens once the dust settles.
Will Naqvi take the stage if India lifts the cup? or will Asia Cup 2025 end without a handshake and without a handover?
The scoreboard might tell us who wins the match, but the podium might tell us who wins the message.
