On Sunday, India clinched their ninth Asia Cup title with a five-wicket victory over Pakistan. However, the post-match celebrations were taken dramatic turn by a significant controversy involving the Asia Cup trophy.
Following the match, the Indian team declined to accept the trophy from Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman and Asian Cricket Council President Mohsin Naqvi, citing his controversial remarks about the Indian Army. The team had requested Emirates Board Vice-Chairman Khalid Al Zarooni to present the trophy, but this request was denied, and Naqvi continued with the presentation. And when India refused to accept the trophy from him, he walked away with it.
The Indian team, led by Captain Suryakumar Yadav, celebrated their victory without the physical trophy. Yadav expressed his disappointment in the press conference, stating, “I have never seen a champion team being denied a trophy, that too a hard-earned one.” Abhishek Sharma also added, “We actually got one Surya bhai brought it! We felt it, we knew its weight.”
In response to the incident, the Board of Control for Cricket in India plans to file a formal complaint against Naqvi at the ICC. BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia criticized the actions, stating, “We decided not to accept the Asia Cup 2025 trophy from the ACC chairman, who represents a country currently at odds with ours. That was our stance. But this does not give him the right to take the trophy and medals. It is extremely unfortunate and unsportsmanlike.”
The BCCI is going to raise the complaint at the upcoming International Cricket Council conference in Dubai this November. The incident has sparked a wide debate and drawn attention in world politics, which highlights the complexities of India-Pakistan relations.
