The heart of the controversy was the presence of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president, Mohsin Naqvi, to present the awards. Naqvi, who holds the dual role of PCB Chairman and Pakistan’s Interior Minister, was deemed an unacceptable figure by the Indian team management. India’s objection stemmed from Naqvi’s alleged anti-India stance and a series of provocative social media posts and actions throughout the tournament, including demanding that the ICC charge Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav for expressing solidarity with the Indian Army.
Indian team officials reportedly informed the ACC well in advance that the players would refuse to accept the silverware from Naqvi. Their stance was firm: while they were willing to receive the trophy from any other dignitary on the dais—such as the Emirates Cricket Board vice-chairman—they would not engage with Naqvi.
The Aftermath
The presentation ceremony was delayed for nearly an hour as ACC officials scrambled to resolve the deadlock. Naqvi, however, stood his ground, insisting on presenting the trophy in his capacity as ACC chief and reportedly blocking any attempt to find an alternative presenter. The tension was palpable on the field as the Indian players stood firm at a distance from the podium, while Naqvi waited awkwardly on stage.
The atmosphere was further charged by the crowd. Indian supporters inside the stadium booed loudly when Naqvi appeared and filled the air with chants of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai.” The Pakistani team added to the confusion by remaining inside their dressing room for a prolonged period after the match ended.
When it became clear that India would not budge, the ceremony proceeded to individual awards, which were presented by other officials. However, the final act of the evening sent shockwaves through the cricketing world. Instead of the trophy being given to the winning captain, Mohsin Naqvi, along with the ACC event staff, allegedly walked away with the Asia Cup trophy and the winners’ medals.
This unprecedented denial of the trophy to the champion team sparked immediate and furious condemnation. Here’s how the BCCI, Team India skipper Suryakumar Yadav and Mohsin Naqvi reacted to the entire controversy.
- BCCI’s Strong Protest: BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia slammed the act as “very unfortunate, very unsporting,” and “childish.” He announced that the BCCI would lodge a “very serious and very strong protest” against Naqvi’s conduct at the International Cricket Council (ICC) conference in November. Saikia justified the team’s refusal, stating they could not accept the trophy from a person who “represents a country that is waging a war against our country.”
- Player Reactions: Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav publicly criticized the organisers, stating he had “never seen a champion team being denied a trophy, that too a hard-earned one.” The victorious team, in a show of defiance, celebrated on the podium without the physical trophy, with players later posting images with a mock or virtual trophy on social media.
- Naqvi’s Response: Adding fuel to the fire, Naqvi posted a controversial response on social media to the Indian Prime Minister’s congratulatory message, attempting to drag political conflict into the sporting victory, which was heavily criticized by cricket analysts for politicizing the game.
The Asia Cup final of 2025 will forever be etched in memory as the day geopolitical friction completely overshadowed sporting achievement, culminating in the embarrassing spectacle of a trophy being whisked away from the rightful champions.
