Asia Cup 2025: India’s Victory Overshadowed by Trophy Controversy
India’s triumph over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 final should have been a night of celebration. Instead, the victory was marred by controversy when Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chairperson and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi allegedly left the Dubai International Stadium with the trophy, denying India the chance to lift the silverware.
India Clinches Record 9th Asia Cup Title
India secured its record-extending ninth Asia Cup title with a five-wicket win over Pakistan. Chasing 147, Tilak Varma’s unbeaten 69 off 53 balls proved decisive, while Rinku Singh struck the winning runs. The victory reinforced India’s dominance in Asian cricket.
The final showcased resilience and teamwork, with Suryakumar Yadav leading the side effectively. At the end of play, the scoreboard and big screen declared India as “Asia Cup 2025 Champions.”
Trophy Drama: What Happened After the Win
While players were ready for the presentation, events took an unexpected turn:
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The post-match ceremony was delayed for nearly an hour.
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Indian players, including Kuldeep Yadav and Abhishek Sharma, collected individual awards, but when it came to the team trophy, the ceremony was abruptly cut short.
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Broadcaster Simon Doull announced that “the Indian team will not be collecting their trophy tonight” based on ACC communication.
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Reports indicated India refused to accept the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, who allegedly left the stadium with the silverware.
Suryakumar Yadav’s Response
Speaking to the media, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav expressed disappointment but remained composed:
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“I have never seen this before… a champion team denied its trophy. This was a hard-earned victory.”
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He emphasized that his true trophies were his teammates and support staff, calling their journey and memories more valuable than the silverware.
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Suryakumar highlighted that the scoreboard itself declaring India as champions was proof enough of their achievement.
Clash Between India and Pakistan Beyond the Field
The Asia Cup 2025 had already seen tense moments between India and Pakistan:
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From no handshakes to heated gestures, tempers ran high throughout the tournament.
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The final added a new controversy as Pakistan players delayed joining the presentation ceremony.
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Naqvi faced boos from the crowd and chants of “Bharat Mata ki Jai.”
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Pakistan captain Salman Agha threw the runner-up cheque, further souring the event.
Why Did India Refuse the Trophy?
Reports suggest the Indian team objected to receiving the trophy directly from Naqvi due to:
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His dual role as ACC chairman and Pakistan’s Interior Minister, which raised concerns of bias.
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The tense political and cricketing atmosphere between the two nations.
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The perception that Naqvi deliberately attempted to deny India its rightful celebration.
In the end, Khalid Al Zarooni, vice-chairman of the Emirates Cricket Board, was supposed to hand over the trophy. But the plan was scrapped at the last minute, leaving India without the physical cup.
Broader Implications for Cricket Governance
This incident raises important questions about the neutrality of sports administration:
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Can individuals holding political and national cricket board roles ensure fairness in multi-nation tournaments?
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Should ACC and ICC step in to enforce neutral handling of trophies and presentations?
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How will this affect future India-Pakistan cricket relations?
Conclusion
India may have returned to its hotel without the Asia Cup trophy in hand, but the team’s victory remains undisputed. The scoreboard, fans, and history books testify that India are the 2025 Asia Cup Champions.
The controversy, however, casts a shadow on the administration of the tournament, raising calls for greater accountability within the ACC. For the Indian players and fans, the absence of the trophy may sting, but the true prize lies in the team’s performance, unity, and the memories of a hard-fought campaign.
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