Asia Cup 2025: A Cricket Spectacle Overshadowed by Trophy Turmoil

Following a match between India and Pakistan in the Asia Cup, the events that unfolded generated more curiosity than the on-field action itself. This was evident even after India secured a thrilling victory over their archrivals in the tense final in Dubai on Sunday, clinching the continental title.

A palpable sense of uncertainty lingered around the field, with everyone’s attention focused on Mohsin Naqvi, the President of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), who is also Pakistan’s Interior Minister and the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Naqvi was deep in discussions with the tournament organizers about the next steps, as the Indian team management had declined to accept the trophy from the ACC president amid the ongoing tensions between the two nations. Though an ACC press release had announced that Naqvi would present the winners’ trophy, this seemed not to have been communicated to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav notably missed the pre-final captains’ photoshoot with the trophy, leaving his Pakistani counterpart, Salman Agha, to fulfill the duty alone.

Despite the ongoing deliberations between Naqvi and organizers, the Indian team stood resolutely about 30 meters away. The trophy was in place, and the stage was ready, but the Pakistani players remained sequestered in their dressing room.

Approximately 45 minutes after the match concluded, Naqvi approached the dais amid chants of ‘Bharat Mata ki jai’. Most fans had already departed, but a few, predominantly Indian, remained to watch their team claim the trophy.

Five minutes later, the Pakistani players finally emerged on the field, greeted by jeers from the Indian supporters present at the presentation ceremony. Naqvi and other dignitaries stood on stage, confused, for about half an hour, during which time the trophy was discreetly removed from the field.

The broadcast cameras, which had remained static until then, finally began capturing the presentation ceremony, commencing an hour and 15 minutes after the last ball was bowled.

As umpires and match officials collected their mementos, the Pakistani players received their runner-up medals from Aminul Islam, President of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). Naqvi, who had been mostly idle, at last had a task, handing the runner-up cheque to Agha, who dismissively tossed it aside before heading for his post-match interview.

After Agha’s interview with presenter Simon Doull concluded, a brief fireworks display illuminated the sky, prolonging the drama of the presentation. The Indian players were then called to receive their post-match and series awards, disrupted by the sudden pyrotechnics. Following the formalities, they witnessed the ‘champions’ banner being brought and swiftly removed before them.

No medals were given to the Indian players, and the trophy was placed back in its cabinet without being awarded to the winners. After another awkward wait, the post-match charade concluded with the Indian players celebrating on the dais without the trophy, some humorously mimicking holding the absent silverware.

“This is something I have never seen since I started playing and following cricket. A champion team being denied a hard-earned trophy—I feel we deserved it, and there’s nothing more to say,” remarked Suryakumar at the post-match press conference, which started about 30 minutes after the ceremony’s conclusion.

Despite protocol dictating that the losing side conduct the post-match presser first, Agha followed Suryakumar, commenting, “What happened in this tournament is quite disappointing. They believe that by not shaking hands, they disrespect us, but in reality, they disrespect cricket.”

The tournament was unprecedented for multiple reasons. Throughout, the teams never shook hands with each other, and the champions left without the trophy. Even with some thrilling cricket played on the pitch, the off-field incidents left a stain on the spirit of the sport.

Published on Sep 29, 2025.