The Asia Cup 2025 concluded with high drama, both on and off the field. While India emerged victorious against Pakistan in the final, what should have been a joyous trophy celebration turned into one of the most controversial incidents in recent cricketing history. Reports suggest that Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Mohsin Naqvi refused to hand over the Asia Cup trophy to India, sparking outrage and raising questions about sportsmanship and administrative neutrality in cricket.
After India defeated Pakistan convincingly in the Asia Cup final in Dubai, the stage was set for the traditional post-match celebrations. However, what followed shocked fans worldwide. The Indian team waited for more than an hour to be called on stage for the presentation, only to find the trophy and medals missing.
The reason soon became clear: India had refused to accept the trophy directly from Mohsin Naqvi. Given the tense geopolitical ties between India and Pakistan, and Naqvi’s dual role as both PCB chief and a senior political figure in Pakistan, Indian players expressed discomfort in receiving the award from him. Instead, they requested that the presentation be handled by a neutral authority — specifically, the vice-chairman of the Emirates Cricket Board.
Naqvi, however, denied the request and stood firm that the Indian team could only receive the trophy directly from him. When India did not comply, chaos unfolded, and ACC officials were seen carrying the trophy off the ground.
BCCI’s Strong Response
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was quick to react. Secretary Devajit Saikia issued a strong statement condemning Naqvi’s actions:
“We have decided not to accept the Asia Cup 2025 trophy from the ACC chairman, who happens to be one of the senior leaders of Pakistan. That was a conscious decision. This does not give him the right to take the trophy and the medals with him. It is extremely unfortunate and unsportsmanlike. We hope the trophy and medals will be returned to India as soon as possible.”
The statement reflected not only disappointment but also highlighted what the BCCI described as “unsportsmanlike conduct” on Naqvi’s part.
Naqvi’s Defiance
Two days later, Pakistani media reported that Mohsin Naqvi had rejected repeated requests from BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla to release the trophy. During an ACC meeting in Dubai chaired by Naqvi, Shukla pressed the issue, but Naqvi dismissed it, arguing that the matter was not part of the official agenda.
Naqvi further asserted that if India wanted the trophy, captain Suryakumar Yadav would need to collect it in person from the ACC office. This condition added fuel to the fire, as it directly contradicted India’s earlier refusal to accept the trophy from him on stage.
The matter was left unresolved, with no decision made on whether the trophy would eventually be handed over to the Indian side.
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Tensions Behind the Scenes
This controversy cannot be viewed in isolation. The India–Pakistan rivalry extends beyond cricket, with political and diplomatic tensions often spilling onto the sporting field.
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Earlier in the tournament, India had snubbed the handshake tradition during their first match against Pakistan, escalating tensions.
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Naqvi reportedly threatened to withdraw Pakistan from the tournament if such gestures continued.
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His insistence on personally handing the trophy to India has been perceived by some as a power play designed to assert dominance, rather than a standard administrative duty.
The situation highlights how sports diplomacy can often reflect broader geopolitical realities, especially in a high-profile tournament like the Asia Cup.
India’s Next Steps
It is highly unlikely that any Indian representative will visit the ACC office to collect the trophy or medals. Sources suggest that the BCCI is preparing to escalate the matter to the International Cricket Council (ICC).
By involving the ICC, India aims to highlight not just the trophy issue but also what it considers to be broader concerns about bias within the ACC’s functioning under Naqvi’s leadership.
If the ICC takes up the matter, it could set a precedent for how international cricket handles disputes where politics and sports collide.
Fan Reactions and Media Coverage
Fans across India expressed outrage on social media, criticizing the ACC and PCB for what they described as “petty politics” overshadowing the spirit of the game. Many pointed out that while India earned a hard-fought victory on the field, the players were denied the joy of lifting the trophy in front of their fans.
International media outlets also covered the incident, calling it one of the most bizarre moments in cricket history. For many, it reinforced the idea that cricket in South Asia is never just about sport — it is deeply intertwined with politics, pride, and national identity.
What This Means for Asian Cricket
The Asia Cup has long been seen as a celebration of cricket in the subcontinent, but this controversy risks undermining its credibility. Key takeaways include:
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Administrative Neutrality – ACC leaders must act in the interest of the sport, not national politics.
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Future of Asia Cup – If such disputes continue, the tournament may lose its appeal as a unifying platform for Asian cricket.
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India–Pakistan Relations – Cricket often mirrors political ties, and this incident will only deepen the mistrust between the two boards.
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Role of ICC – The global governing body may need to step in more actively to ensure fairness in continental tournaments.
Conclusion
The 2025 Asia Cup will be remembered as much for India’s victory on the field as for the controversy that followed. Mohsin Naqvi’s refusal to hand over the trophy, and his insistence that the Indian captain collect it in person, has sparked a storm that goes far beyond cricket.
For now, India celebrates its win without a trophy in hand, while administrators battle over what should have been a straightforward ceremony. Whether the ICC intervenes or the ACC reconsiders its stance, this incident will serve as a reminder that in South Asian cricket, the boundary between sport and politics is often blurred.