Asia Cup 2025 final, Ind vs Pak: In one of the most bizarre scenes in cricket history, the victorious Indian team celebrated without the trophy on the dais in Dubai. Suryakumar Yadav said India were denied the trophy after it emerged that the team refused to collect it from Pakistan Cricket Board chief Mohsin Naqvi.
In one of the most bizarre sights on a sporting field, India celebrated their Asia Cup triumph on the dais without the traditional symbols of victory. None of the players wore their medals around their necks, and captain Suryakumar Yadav did not hold the trophy in his hands. Wondering why?
India had refused to collect the Asia Cup from Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as the president of the Asian Cricket Council. It was widely speculated that India would take this stand amid tensions between the two countries, particularly given Naqvi’s dual role as a government minister in Pakistan and his provocative social media post during the tournament.
Incidentally, the Asia Cup marked the first meeting between India and Pakistan on a cricket field since the Pahalgam terror attack in April and the cross-border hostilities that followed in May.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav confirmed that the team had decided not to receive the trophy from Naqvi, adding that nobody had forced them to take this stand. He later explained that the trophy was not awarded to them as a result of their decision.
“We as a team decided not to take the trophy (from Mohsin Naqvi). Nobody told us to do so. But I feel a team that that wins the tournament deserves the trophy,” captain Suryakumar said during his interaction with the press after the final.
India informed the officials that they were willing to receive the trophy from Emirates Cricket Board vice-chairman Khalid Al Zarooni, who was sharing the stage with Naqvi. However, Naqvi did not permit this to happen.