India Refuses Asia Cup Trophy From ACC Chief Naqvi After Final Win

Dubai - India won the Asia Cup cricket title for the ninth time after beating Pakistan by five wickets in the final on Sunday but refused to accept the winners' trophy from Asian Cricket Council president Mohsin Naqvi during the post-match ceremony.

The Indian team declined the presentation because Naqvi, who also serves as chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board and Pakistan's interior minister, was scheduled to hand over the trophy, according to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

India chased down Pakistan's total of 146 all out with five balls remaining at Dubai International Stadium, led by half-centuries from Tilak Varma and Rishabh Pant.

The presentation ceremony, delayed by more than an hour after the match ended around 10:30 p.m. local time, proceeded without the trophy handover. Individual awards were given to Indian players Kuldeep Yadav, Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma by other dignitaries, while Pakistan captain Salman Agha accepted the runners-up cheque from Naqvi.

Simon Doull, the host broadcaster's presenter, announced at the ceremony: "I have been informed by the Asian Cricket Council that the Indian cricket team will not be collecting their awards tonight."

The standoff occurred amid strained India-Pakistan cricket relations, with no bilateral series since 2012 and no handshakes between the teams during the Asia Cup. The Indian side had avoided pre-match photoshoots with Pakistan and did not shake hands after their group-stage encounter on September 14.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said in Mumbai: "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. So we decided not to take it from him." Saikia added that the board would lodge a protest against Naqvi at the next International Cricket Council meeting.

India captain Suryakumar Yadav said after the match: "I have never seen a champion team not getting a trophy. We deserved it."

The Asian Cricket Council had no immediate comment on the trophy's status. Officials said the silverware was removed from the stage before the ceremony concluded and was not awarded.

The trophy is expected to be delivered to the Indian team in the coming days through alternative arrangements, according to BCCI officials. Pakistan players received their runners-up medals from Bangladesh Cricket Board president Aminul Islam.