In an extraordinary turn of events, the Indian cricket team declined to accept the Asia Cup Trophy from Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who is the chairman of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).
After India defeated Pakistan by five wickets in an exciting Asia Cup final on Sunday, there was 90 minutes of pure drama at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The effort on the 22 yards was overshadowed by what transpired following a fierce game of cricket.
The Indian players took to the field soon after the match, some of them accompanied by their families. Everyone was cheerful, including head coach Gautam Gambhir’s wife and daughters, as well as the wife of captain Suryakumar Yadav, Devisha.
The chairman of the ACC and Pakistan Cricket Board, Mohsin Naqvi, and his entourage was just 20 to 25 yards from where the “Men in Blue” had assembled. Because of Naqvi’s strong anti-India views, the BCCI reportedly told their ACC points-person that the team would not accept the award from him.
In relation to Pakistan’s allegations that six Indian jets were shot down during “Operation Sindoor” following the Pahalgam terror incident, Naqvi had shared cryptic videos of Cristiano Ronaldo’s plane crash gesture celebrations.
Naqvi was also the driving force behind Pakistan’s request that Suryakumar be charged with a Level 4 crime by the ICC for supporting the Indian Army and expressing sympathy for the victims of the Pahalgam terror incident. Throughout the competition, the Indian squad had also adhered to a “no handshake” policy with Pakistan.
None of the Pakistani players were there for the ceremony during the first hour of the postponed presentation.
It has been reported that, aside from Naqvi, the Indian team was open to accepting the trophy from any of the other dignitaries on the stage. Khalid Al Zarooni, the head of Dubai Sports City, was also on the dais and was expected to give the Asia Cup trophy to India.
The Indian cricketers, however, refused to take the stage until Naqvi was there despite the BCCI’s unambiguous stance, and the PCB chairman refused to comply.
“The BCCI would have lodged an official protest if Naqvi had tried to forcibly hand over the trophy,” a senior BCCI official told PTI on condition of anonymity.
In light of this, post-match host Simon Doull announced the individual sponsors’ awards, which are required in order to thank the event’s investors and stakeholders.
After Aminul Islam Bulbul, president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, presented the individual awards and the Pakistani team picked up their prizes, Doull declared: “I have been informed by the Asian Cricket Council that the Indian cricket team will not be collecting their awards tonight. So that does conclude the post-match presentation.”
To everyone’s amazement, the ACC event staff also left with the trophy as Naqvi went off the podium and strolled towards the departure gate, leaving everyone stunned.
Media representatives outside the stadium were told by BCB president Bulbul, who is perceived as a close ally of Naqvi, that the prize distribution ceremony had to be abruptly canceled in the middle of the proceedings because of India’s refusal.
While without the trophy, the Indian team and support personnel gathered close to the stage for a little celebration and a photo session.
“We have decided not to take the Asia Cup 2025 trophy from the ACC chairman, who happens to be one of the main leaders of Pakistan,” at the board headquarters in Mumbai, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia informed a small gathering of news agencies.
Additionally, he requested that Naqvi return the individual medals and the Championship trophy as quickly as possible.
“But that does not mean that the gentleman will take away the trophy with him, along with the medals. So it is very unfortunate and we hope that the trophy and the medals will be returned to India as soon as possible.”
Salman Agha, the captain of Pakistan, supported his chairman’s contentious decision when questioned about it.
“Look he is the ACC chairman. He is well within his rights to give away the trophy.”
Saikia stated that the BCCI, which held its AGM on Sunday, is incensed by the current situation and will request action from the ICC.
“There is an ICC conference in November in Dubai. In the next conference, we are going to launch a very serious and very strong protest against the act of the ACC chairperson (Naqvi),” Saikia said.
In the global cricket broadcast ecosystem, the India vs. Pakistan matches are the figurative cash cows. As a result, every attempt is made to fit as many games as possible into multilateral events.
However, Sunday’s events in Dubai will undoubtedly leave a bitter aftertaste, and those involved will have to determine how much they want to pay for these games that exacerbate hostility, as was the case during the Asia Cup.
