The Asia Cup 2025 concluded in controversy on Sunday (September 28) after champions India declined to accept the winners’ trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s Interior Minister and the head of its cricket board.
During the post-match presentation in Dubai, Indian players remained distant from the podium as Naqvi prepared to hand over the trophy. The delay stretched for several minutes, with Indian management making it clear that the team would not receive the silverware if Naqvi was the presenter.
The situation quickly turned tense. As Naqvi stood on stage, Indian fans in the stands erupted with chants of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”, while the champions stayed away from the ceremony. Eventually, organisers were forced to remove the trophy from public view and take it into the Indian dressing room.
Tensions already visiAsia Cup trophy not awarded to champions India after team refused to accept it from ACC chief Mohsin Naqvi.ble during tournament
This refusal was not an isolated incident. Throughout the Asia Cup, the Indian team had refrained from engaging in customary pre-match gestures with their Pakistani counterparts. Players avoided handshakes after matches and skipped the traditional captains’ photoshoot before tosses, signaling strained relations well before the final.
Embarrassment for ACC and PCB
The standoff left Naqvi visibly isolated. Pakistani players, too, remained inside their dressing room for nearly an hour after the match ended, delaying their participation in the presentation ceremony. When they finally walked out, led by Salman Agha, the crowd responded with loud pro-India chants, adding to the awkwardness.
With the trophy handed privately in the dressing room rather than on stage, the Asia Cup ended without its customary presentation spectacle, leaving the ACC red-faced and highlighting the deep political undertones that continue to impact Indo-Pak cricket relations.