I was at the Dubai stadium for the Asia Cup 2025 final. India won, but it got dramatic when they did not take the trophy from ACC chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
The Men in Blue just caught up to Pakistan’s score in an exciting game, but the fun turned sour. In the tense atmosphere, India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav and his teammates stood 15 yards away as Naqvi, also the Pakistan PCB chief and interior minister, waited in vain to hand over the silverware.
The stadium felt charged, like a calm lake suddenly stirred by lightning: cheers turned to confusion, and a long-delayed ceremony ended with no trophy for the champions.
Asia Cup Final Trophy Ceremony Turned Tense
I could hardly believe my eyes as the post-match presentation descended into chaos. Instead of the usual jubilation, the evening turned awkward when Mohsin Naqvi, Pakistan’s interior minister and ACC president, stayed alone on stage with the trophy.
India’s board had quietly instructed the team to “not accept the trophy from the ACC chairman.” As fans and officials watched, Asian Cricket Council presenter Simon Doull finally declared: “the Indian cricket team will not be collecting their awards tonight.”
The trophy itself was quietly removed from the podium; Naqvi simply picked it up and walked off. I saw Yadav maintain his composure, later saying he’d “never seen… a champion team denied a trophy.”
Instead, he insisted the real prize was the memories in the dressing room, not the missing silverware. The refusal sent ripples through cricket diplomacy.
BCCI official Devajit Saikia confirmed to the media that India’s players “had refused to accept the trophy from [ACC] President Naqvi.” Moreover, inside the ground, the trophy gantry stood empty—an unprecedented sight.
The stage drama wasn’t just about a piece of hardware, but deeper tensions: Yadav and co. had already snubbed handshakes with Pakistan at the toss and photos with the Pakistani captain throughout the tournament, a silent protest born of cross-border conflicts.
In addition, the result? India lifted the trophy in spirit, but left Dubai without the physical cup. As Yadav later put it with a smile, “We felt the trophy in spirit,” not as a trophy in hand.
Likewise, for fans in the stands, it felt like watching a champion drop their crown at the finish line.
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Stadium Reactions: Booing Fans and Medal Ceremony
The charged atmosphere didn’t stop on the pitch. In the stands, many supporters expressed their feelings loudly.
Indian fans booed both Naqvi and Pakistan’s captain, Salman Ali Agha, as they appeared on stage, chanting “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” in a chorus of patriotic fervor. I felt the tension rise like thunder in the crowd when the Pakistani players finally emerged to receive their runners-up medals.
The presentation went on under heavily muted conditions: Pakistan’s team politely collected their silver medals at a largely empty podium, the stands eerily sparse as the trophy ceremony was cut short. Even as Salman Agha and teammates clapped for India’s individual award winners, many in the crowd silently simmered with resentment.
Key moments from the ceremony included:
- India is rejecting the trophy presentation from Mohsin Naqvi.
- Fans booing Naqvi and Pakistan captain Salman Agha with cries of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai.”
- Pakistan’s squad is collecting their runner-up medals despite the controversy.
- Captain Suryakumar Yadav announced he would donate his Asia Cup match fees to victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.
Moreover, I remember seeing Salman Agha greeted by boos as he came forward, a stark image of how off-field politics colored every cricketing gesture. Yet on the podium, the sportsmanship of wearing medals was quietly observed.
Likewise, it was as if the game had split in two: on the field, India had triumphed by five wickets, but off it, India and Pakistan stood worlds apart.
Captains Speak: Suryakumar Yadav and Salman Agha React
Later, in press conferences, the two captains framed the events differently. Likewise, Suryakumar Yadav stayed diplomatic.
Moreover, he stressed that “some things in life are bigger than the sportsman’s spirit,” a pointed reference to the recent Pahalgam terror attack and subsequent military tension.
He downplayed the missing trophy, emphasizing that “all the 14 guys with me… those are the real trophies” in the dressing room. Yadav even found the humor, tweeting a photo of him and Tilak Varma with an AI-generated Asia Cup trophy, captioned “only the champions will be remembered and not the picture of a trophy.”
Salman Ali Agha, on the other hand, was openly critical. He publicly lamented India’s actions as “disrespecting cricket.” Notably, he revealed that “Suryakumar Yadav shook hands with me in private at the start of the tournament… both at the pre-tournament press conference and in the referee’s meeting.
But when they’re out in front of the cameras, they don’t shake our hands.” I noted the hurt in his words: he felt the handshake snub at the trophy photoshoot, where Yadav refused even a joint photo with the trophy, was yet another slight.
Salman insisted,“if it was up to him [Yadav], he’d shake hands,” suggesting instructions from on high were at play. He also mentioned that Pakistan’s team voluntarily posed with the trophy themselves “because we wanted to fulfill our obligations,” while India skipped the ritual altogether.
The contrasting interviews mirrored the on-field narrative. In addition, Yadav’s measured tone and personal reflections showed a captain trying to take high ground, dedicating his team’s tournament to the memory of Pahalgam victims and the armed forces.
Furthermore, Agha’s straight-talking rebuke underscored how the entire series of handshakes, poses, and trophy handovers had become political.
FAQs
- Why did India refuse to accept the Asia Cup trophy from Mohsin Naqvi?
India’s team declined the presentation because Mohsin Naqvi is not only ACC chairman but also Pakistan’s PCB chief and a controversial figure. The BCCI confirmed the players had been instructed “not to take the trophy from the ACC chairman” Naqvi. In interviews, India’s captain hinted this was a deliberate stance rooted in recent tensions between the countries. - What did Pakistan captain Salman Agha say about India’s actions?
Salman Ali Agha was openly critical. He said India’s refusal to shake hands and accept the trophy was “very disappointing” and “disrespecting cricket.” He pointed out that Yadav had shaken hands with him privately but snubbed him in front of cameras. Agha felt the message it sent – especially to young fans – was the worst part of the incident. - Did Suryakumar Yadav shake hands with Salman Agha at all?
Yes, but only away from cameras. Agha revealed Yadav “shook hands with me in private at the start of the tournament” (during a press conference and a meeting). However, Yadav refused the traditional handshake at the match toss and the pre-game photo op in the final. In his own words, Yadav saw “some things in life that are bigger than sportsmen’s spirit,” indicating why he avoided the public handshake. - Did the Pakistan team still receive their medals for being runners-up?
Yes. After India’s snub, the presentation ceremony was cut short, but Pakistan’s players did come forward to collect their runner-up medals. They stood on the podium and accepted the silver medals and prize money while many fans remained seated, marking a subdued end to the match. - What donation did Suryakumar Yadav make related to the Asia Cup?
Suryakumar Yadav announced that he would donate his entire match fees from the Asia Cup to victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and to the Indian armed forces. In a post on social media he wrote: “I have decided to donate my match fees from this tournament to support our Armed Forces and the families of the victims who suffered from the Pahalgam terror attack.”
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