In a thrilling end to the 2025 Asia Cup final game played in Dubai on Sunday, India overcame Pakistan by a close five-wicket margin in a high-pressure match. The game, as was the case with the preceding two India-Pakistan matches in the competition, was not without drama particularly concerning the post-game proceedings that ensued after Rinku Singh’s match-clinching boundary.
Following the nail-biting climax, the mood became tense at the ceremony time. Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian team was spotted celebrating but prominently without the winners’ trophy. Reports indicate the Indian players refused to accept the trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi, also the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Pakistan’s interior minister.
The confusion was compounded when the Pakistan squad arrived late for the presentation, resulting in delays. The trophy presentation was originally agreed to be done by Khalid Al Zarooni, Vice-Chairman of the Emirates Cricket Board. But after Pakistan’s players had been awarded their medals and Salman Agha had picked up the runners-up cheque, viewers were shocked when commentator Simon Doull made the extraordinary announcement that the Indian team would not be accepting the trophy. Naqvi was afterwards spotted leaving the ground.
While speaking to The Indian Express in an interview, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav made it clear that his side was not guilty of any delay and distanced himself and the team from taking the decision to skip Naqvi at the ceremony. He also ruled out any direct role of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in the issue.
“We didn’t close the door and sit inside the dressing room. We didn’t make anyone wait for the presentation ceremony. Trophy leke bhaag gaye woh (They ran away with the trophy). That’s what I saw. I don’t know, some people were making a video of us, but we were standing. We didn’t go inside,” he said.
“First of all, let me make it clear, no one from the Government or the BCCI told us anything throughout the tournament that if someone gives a trophy, we won’t take it. We took that decision on our own on the ground. They (ACC officials) were standing there on the stage and we were standing below. I saw them talking on stage and I don’t know the details of their chat. Some in the crowd started booing. And then we saw someone who was their representative taking the trophy and running away,” he said.
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Nonetheless, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia later confirmed that the board plans to file an official complaint regarding Naqvi’s handling of the situation and the removal of the trophy from the venue further escalating the controversy.
