India Wins Asia Cup, Refuses Trophy from Pakistan

DUBAI: India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav said his team were wrongfully denied the chance to lift the Asia Cup 2025 trophy. In a dramatic final, India beat Pakistan by five wickets, but the presentation ceremony took a strange turn. The trophy was removed just before it could be handed over, after Indian players refused to accept it from Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who also heads the PCB and ACC. As a result, India celebrated by hoisting an imaginary trophy on the dais.

The award ceremony had already faced a delay of over an hour before the trophy was pulled away. Devajit Saikia, BCCI secretary, confirmed players refused to accept the trophy from Naqvi. Meanwhile, local media reported organizers left with the trophy as Indian players waited on stage. This controversy followed earlier tension in the tournament, where Indian players repeatedly avoided handshakes with Pakistan. The shock and drama overshadowed the result itself.

Suryakumar expressed frustration with the decision. “A champion team is denied a trophy — I’ve never seen that,” he told reporters. He said India had earned their win and deserved to lift the trophy. He added that the real trophies were in the dressing room — the pride, the effort of 14 players and support staff. For him, that achievement is as meaningful as the trophy itself.

On the other side, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha criticized India’s behavior. He called it disrespectful to cricket and said that refusing to shake hands or accept the trophy smacked of poor sportsmanship. According to him, India did not just disrespect Pakistan — they disrespected the spirit of the game. Pakistan also posed with the trophy themselves, fulfilling their obligations in the crisis-ridden ceremony.

This controversy risks leaving a lasting mark on the tournament. India remains the champion in record, but without a formal trophy handover. The ACC and Asian Cricket Council have yet to comment officially on the removal of the trophy or the aborted presentation. More will likely unfold in the coming days as the cricket world reacts to this highly unusual finishing act.