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Chandigarh: In an unprecedented turn of events, the Asia Cup 2025 final ended not with India lifting the trophy, but with a diplomatic and sporting standoff. After beating Pakistan by five wickets in a thrilling finale at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, the Indian team refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy from Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the chairman of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).

What followed was 90 minutes of high drama on the ground, overshadowing India’s on-field triumph. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav, coach Gautam Gambhir, and their families were celebrating when the presentation ceremony stalled. Naqvi, standing with his entourage just yards away, waited with the silverware, but the Indian players stayed back.

Why India Refused the Trophy

According to BCCI officials, the team had communicated in advance that it would not accept the award from Naqvi due to his anti-India stance. Naqvi had earlier shared cryptic social media posts referencing Pakistani claims of downing Indian jets during Operation Sindoor and had reportedly pushed the ICC to penalise Suryakumar Yadav for publicly supporting the Indian Army after the Pahalgam terror attack.

Throughout the tournament, the Indian team also maintained a “no handshake” policy with Pakistan’s players and officials.“The BCCI would have lodged an official protest if Naqvi had tried to forcibly hand over the trophy,” a senior board official told PTI.

Ceremony Collapses Amid Standoff

For nearly an hour, Pakistan’s players stayed away from the ground while ACC officials scrambled to manage the situation. Event host Simon Doull went ahead with the sponsor-driven individual awards. Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Aminul Islam Bulbul, seen as close to Naqvi, handed out Pakistan’s prizes.

But when it came to the big moment, Doull made the startling announcement: “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.”

As Naqvi exited, ACC staff also left with the trophy, leaving fans and players bewildered. India’s squad posed for photographs with families near the podium — but without the silverware.

BCCI Hits Back

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, speaking in Mumbai, confirmed the board’s position: “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. But that does not mean he will take away the trophy and medals. We expect them to be returned at the earliest.”

Saikia said the board would take the matter to the ICC’s November conference in Dubai, where a “very serious and strong protest” will be lodged against Naqvi’s conduct.

Pakistan Defends Naqvi

Pakistan skipper Salman Agha, when asked about the fiasco, defended his ACC chairman: “Look, he is the ACC chairman. He is well within his rights to give away the trophy.”

But the optics — of the champions leaving empty-handed — left a sour taste.

Bigger Stakes at Play

The incident highlights the fragility of India-Pakistan cricket ties, already hostage to political and security tensions. The India vs Pakistan clashes remain the cash cows of global cricket broadcasting, but Sunday’s chaos raises questions for stakeholders.

As one senior broadcaster observed privately, “At what cost do you keep staging these matches if they only inflame animosity instead of showcasing cricket?”

The Asia Cup ended with India victorious on the field but deprived of their trophy, while the BCCI prepared to escalate the standoff into the global cricketing arena.