Despite India’s five-wicket victory over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 final at Dubai International Stadium, the team walked away without their hard-earned trophy and medals. The Asian Cricket Council
(ACC) president and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, refused to let anyone but himself hand over the silverware. The Indian team, strong in their stance, refused to accept the trophy from Naqvi.
The Suryakumar Yadav-led team declined to take the trophy from Naqvi, who is also Pakistan’s Interior Minister. According to BCCI officials, this decision was deliberate, given Naqvi’s political position and his repeated controversial conduct throughout the tournament.
While India was willing to receive the trophy from Emirates Cricket Board vice-chairman Khalid Al Zarooni or Bangladesh Cricket Board president Aminul Islam, Naqvi insisted he alone would do the honours. As a result, the winners’ trophy and medals were taken away from the stage altogether, leaving the Indian team to celebrate with confetti and fireworks.
Meanwhile, Naqvi has been part of multiple controversies during this year’s Asia Cup. Incidents, including the no-handshake row to demanding the removal of match referee David Pycroft, he has been accused of prioritising Pakistan’s interests over his duty as ACC chairman. His decision to deny India their rightful trophy was described by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia as unsportsmanlike and unacceptable.
It is extremely unfortunate and unsportsmanlike: Devajit Saikia
According to an India Today report, the ACC chair left the venue with the trophy and medals. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed that it will file a serious and strong protest with the International Cricket Council (ICC) during its upcoming conference in Dubai this November.
"We have decided not to accept the Asia Cup 2025 trophy from the ACC chairman, who happens to be one of the senior leaders of Pakistan. That was a conscious decision. This does not give him the right to take the trophy and the medals with him. It is extremely unfortunate and unsportsmanlike. We hope the trophy and medals will be returned to India as soon as possible. There is an ICC conference scheduled in Dubai this November, and at that conference, we will launch a very serious and strong protest against the actions of the ACC chairman. India is in conflict with that country, and we were expected to receive the trophy from a leader representing them.
We cannot accept a trophy from someone who represents a nation currently at odds with ours. That was our stance. But that does not mean the gentleman is entitled to walk away with the trophy and medals meant for our team and take them to his hotel room. That is completely unacceptable. We hope he reconsiders, and we will be registering a strong protest against his behaviour during today’s prize distribution ceremony," Saikia said.
The BCCI secretary further spoke about the long-term stance on playing against arch-rivals Pakistan, revealing the team will face the nation only in multinational tournaments.
“BCCI has followed the spirit and the policy formulated by the Government of India regarding all games.So when it is a bilateral tournament, India is not going to play against Pakistan or any other hostile country. And the BCCI has been doing it for the last 12 to 15 years. The Government has said that in multinational tournaments, whether it is cricket or football, we have to play. Otherwise, the federation will be banned by international federations. So we followed the policy of the Central Government," he added.
