India Expresses Dissent by Declining Asia Cup Trophy from Mohsin Naqvi

The Indian cricket team declined to accept the Asia Cup trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, the ACC president and PCB chairman, following their victory over Pakistan in the final held in Dubai on Sunday. Despite his dual roles, Naqvi insisted on presenting the trophy himself. As a result, India ended the evening without the trophy.

The presentation ceremony was delayed by over an hour and a half after Rinku Singh’s winning runs. This delay was due to a standoff: India refused the trophy from Naqvi, while he wouldn’t delegate the presentation. Broadcasts began after the trophy had been removed from the field.

While players like Tilak Varma, Kuldeep Yadav, and Abhishek Sharma received individual rewards from sponsors, the Indian team did not receive their winners’ medals or the trophy. Meanwhile, Pakistan accepted their runners-up medals from Aminul Islam, their head coach Mike Hesson guiding them back to the dressing room right after.

Confusion arose as Pakistan’s team and staff headed into the dressing room immediately after the win, causing uncertainty over their scheduled press conference.

With the Pakistani side indoors, and the standoff with India ongoing, the entire post-match presentation party, including Naqvi, waited for over 35 minutes. During this period, Naqvi was seen making several urgent phone calls.

Emirates Cricket Board’s Khalid Al Zarooni and BCB’s Aminul Islam offered to present the trophy to India, a solution they were open to, but Naqvi was unyielding, insisting on doing it himself. Ultimately, no trophy was presented to India.

Pakistan emerged from their dressing room after more than an hour, greeted by an Indian crowd eager for a celebration that never came as the presentation was further delayed, leaving players from both teams to linger on the field.

India’s captain, Suryakumar Yadav, didn’t speak at the presentation. Broadcaster Simon Doull announced that India wouldn’t collect their awards on the night, concluding the event after interviews with Tilak Varma, Salman Ali Agha, and Abhishek Sharma.

After the ceremony and Naqvi’s departure, a brief photo-op included a “champions” sign that was promptly removed. Indian players improvised by posing on the dais, with Suryakumar miming an imaginary trophy amidst cheers, fireworks, and confetti—an unusual end for the tournament’s dominating team.

At the post-match press conference, Suryakumar stated that India should have been awarded the trophy for their impressive campaign.

“I have never seen something like this since I began playing and watching cricket. A champion team was denied a trophy, especially after such a tough tournament,” Suryakumar remarked. “It wasn’t handed to us easily. We earned it. Our efforts deserved recognition.”

“The real trophies for me are the 14 teammates and support staff present throughout this Asia Cup journey, and those special moments will remain with me,” Yadav added.

Following India’s five-wicket win, the Board of Control for Cricket in India announced a reward of INR 21 Crore for the players and support staff.

Pakistan’s captain, Salman Ali Agha, addressed the media after India, breaking from tradition that has the losing team go first. He appeared over two hours post-match, with the team bus having already left, departing later with the team’s media manager.

“If the ACC has a president, it’s his duty to award the trophy. If India doesn’t accept it from him, how else do they receive it?” Agha pondered during his press appearance.

Although the absence of a trophy added an unusual conclusion, India’s convincing performance throughout the tournament was unquestionable.