The 2025 Asia Cup concluded with India securing a record-extending ninth title against Pakistan, but the victory was quickly overshadowed by a post-match controversy. The Indian team refused to accept the trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief, Mohsin Naqvi, due to ongoing hostilities between the two nations.
Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif expressed his disappointment, stating he felt "sad" that the players were denied the opportunity to celebrate with the trophy. Kaif emphasized that the team deserved that trophy moment after their hard work, especially after Tilak Varma's remarkable innings. He added that these moments become lifelong memories and inspire young players, similar to how the 1983 World Cup win inspired his generation.
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia justified the decision, stating that India could not accept the trophy from a representative of a country "waging war" against it. Saikia criticized Naqvi for allegedly taking the trophy and medals to his hotel room, calling it "unexpected" and urging him to return them to India. The BCCI plans to file a formal protest over what it described as inappropriate conduct during the prize distribution ceremony at the upcoming ICC conference in Dubai this November.
According to reports, the Indian players were ready to receive the trophy from Emirates Cricket Board vice-chairman Khalid Al Zarooni, but Naqvi insisted on conducting the presentation himself and ordered the trophy to be withdrawn. This came after India avoided handshakes with Pakistan players in all three Asia Cup matches and skipped the pre-toss photoshoot during the tournament.
The immediate trigger for the Indian cricketers refusing to accept the trophy from Naqvi was allegedly his reposting of images on X, including one titled 'Final Day' in which Pakistan cricketers were seen wearing flight suits with images of airborne fighter jets. Naqvi also posted a picture of Cristiano Ronaldo depicting a crashing plane.
India captain Suryakumar Yadav confirmed that the decision not to take the trophy from Naqvi was made by the players on the field after the match, without any message from the BCCI. Yadav expressed his disappointment, stating he had never seen a champion team not getting a trophy and that his team deserved it. He further added, "The real trophies are my 14 colleagues and they will stay in my memory".
The incident has drawn criticism from various quarters, with some describing Naqvi's actions as "muscle-flexing" and ego-driven, marring India's victory. Others pointed out that the unpleasantness overshadowed India's unprecedented ninth trophy run in the event. Despite the controversy, the Indian team celebrated their victory with emojis, selfies, and memes.
