India denied Asia Cup trophy after refusing to get it from PCB's chief Naqvi

The Asia Cup 2025 concluded in a moment of extraordinary political drama, completely overshadowing India’s hard-fought five-wicket victory over Pakistan in the final. Despite being the champions, the Indian team refused to receive the winner’s trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) president Mohsin Naqvi, who is also a serving minister in Pakistan. The unprecedented standoff triggered chaos during the presentation ceremony, resulting in Naqvi walking away with the silverware and medals.

At the post-match press conference, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav expressed his disbelief over the incident. “I think this is one thing I have never seen since I started playing and following cricket—that a champion side is not handed its trophy, especially one that was so hard-earned,” Yadav stated. He maintained that the true victory lay in the unity of his squad, adding, “For me, the real trophies are in the dressing room—my teammates and support staff who stood together through this journey.”

Yadav clarified that the refusal was a unified stance taken by the players themselves, emphasizing that "No one told us to do it. It was our choice." This collective decision highlights the players' commitment to their principles, even in the face of a momentous victory. The refusal was clearly a political statement directed at the ACC and PCB chief.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia later provided the official explanation for the team's action, confirming that the decision was deliberate. “We have decided not to take the Asia Cup trophy from the ACC chairman, who happens to be one of the main leaders of Pakistan,” Saikia said, drawing a clear line between sports and political appointments in the regional body.

Saikia, however, strongly condemned Naqvi’s subsequent action of taking the trophy and medals away from the venue. “That does not mean the gentleman can carry away the trophy with him. It is very unfortunate, and we expect it to be returned to India as soon as possible,” he asserted, demanding the immediate restitution of the silverware.

The BCCI is now preparing to escalate this matter to the highest level of world cricket governance. Saikia confirmed that the board will formally launch a "very serious and strong protest against the act of the ACC chairperson" at the upcoming International Cricket Council’s (ICC’s) conference scheduled to be held in Dubai this November, ensuring the incident does not go unnoticed on the global stage.