India’s thrilling five-wicket win over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 final has been overshadowed by an unusual controversy, with captain Suryakumar Yadav claiming that his side was effectively “denied” the trophy after the match. The situation unfolded during the post-match presentation ceremony in Dubai, which was delayed and then concluded abruptly without the champions lifting the trophy.
According to Suryakumar, the team refused to accept the trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi, who is also Pakistan’s Interior Minister and PCB Chairman, citing tensions and political sensitivities. The Indian camp reportedly made it clear that they were not comfortable with Naqvi handing over the silverware. As a result, the ceremony ended without the usual trophy celebration, leaving the players and fans with a strange sense of incompletion despite the victory.
Suryakumar expressed his disappointment after the game, saying that this was the first time he had seen a champion team not being able to hold the trophy they had worked so hard to win. “A champion team was denied the trophy — and that too a hard-earned one. We played back-to-back matches and put everything on the line. I feel we deserved that moment,” he said. He added that while the trophy lift never happened, the real pride was in the collective effort of the players and support staff who delivered the title.
The incident has sparked strong reactions from both sides. Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha criticized India’s refusal as disrespectful to the sport, saying that by declining to shake hands after the match and refusing the trophy, India had diminished the spirit of cricket. “They are not disrespecting us by not shaking hands; they are disrespecting the game,” Agha remarked, while noting that Pakistan’s players accepted their runner-up medals and awaited the formalities.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to take up the issue with the ICC, questioning the decision to have Naqvi present the trophy given the political sensitivities. For now, India remain the Asia Cup champions but without the traditional trophy presentation images that usually follow such a victory.
Despite the controversy, the Indian players celebrated on the field in their own way, staging a mock trophy lift and taking group photos to mark the moment. The incident has added an unusual chapter to Asia Cup history, sparking debate about the intersection of sport, politics, and protocol. For India, the title remains theirs, even if the trophy lift — the symbolic culmination of their campaign — never took place.
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