The Asia Cup 2025 final ended in unprecedented drama on Sunday night after India refused to accept the trophy from Pakistan’s Interior Minister and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Mohsin Naqvi, sending out yet another strong message across the border.
The presentation ceremony, already delayed by an hour as the Pakistan team stayed inside the dressing room following their five-wicket defeat, turned chaotic when Indian players declined to receive the silverware from Naqvi. With Naqvi on stage, India refused to accept the trophy from him.
Indian fans stayed back despite the delay and were heard chanting “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” when Naqvi took the centre stage for the presentation ceremony.
After Naqvi took the dais, he was informed that the Indian team wouldn’t accept the trophy if he tried to force himself, and an official protest would be lodged, reported NDTV.
According to media reports, Naqvi walked off with the trophy after learning that the Indian players would not accept the title from him.
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia said BCCI will lodge a strong protest against Naqvi for his actions during the post-match ceremony.
He told ANI news agency: “We have decided not to take the Asia Cup 2025 trophy from the ACC chairman, who happens to be one of the main leaders of Pakistan. So we decided not to take it from him. But that does not mean that the gentleman will take away the trophy with him, along with the medals. So it is very unfortunate and we hope that the trophy and the medals will be returned to India as soon as possible.”
“There is an ICC conference in November in Dubai. In the next conference, we are going to launch a very serious and very strong protest against the act of the ACC chairperson,” he said.
This was one of the most politically charged Asia Cup events, with Indian cricketers, led by skipper Suryakumar Yadav, refusing to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts after all three matches concluded.
Yadav also avoided the customary pre-toss photoshoot with Pakistani skipper Salman Ali Agha.
India played three matches against the arch-rivals in this edition of the Asia Cup, including the final.
India beat Pakistan by five wickets in the final clash.
It was the first time India and Pakistan players faced each other on the cricket field following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 and New Delhi launching Operation Sindoor in May.
Who is Mohsin Naqvi?
Mohsin Naqvi is currently serving as the Asia Cricket Council (ACC) chief.
He is also the Interior Minister of Pakistan.
Sources told The Indian Express that the immediate trigger for the Indian cricketers refusing to accept the trophy from Naqvi was his reposting of images on X — including one titled ‘Final Day’ in which Pakistan cricketers, including captain Salman Agha and fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi, are seen wearing flight suits with images of airborne fighter jets in the background.
According to reports, Naqvi had earlier posted on X a picture of footballer Cristiano Ronaldo depicting a crashing plane, referring to the April-May cross-border tension.
