TimesofIndia.com in Dubai: The Asia Cup 2025 final between arch-rivals India and Pakistan ended in ugly drama on Sunday night at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai, after Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman and ACC president Mohsin Naqvi walked away with the winners’ trophy, leaving the presentation ceremony in complete disarray.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Champions India, who defeated Pakistan by five wickets to clinch a record-extending ninth Asia Cup title, refused to accept the silverware from Naqvi. The players stood firm at a distance from the stage, reportedly informing the organisers that they would not participate in the presentation if the PCB chief attempted to hand over the trophy.
The standoff brought the ceremony to a grinding halt. As Naqvi waited awkwardly on the dais, Indian fans inside the stadium booed loudly, while chanting “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”, making the atmosphere even more hostile. It was quite apparent that Naqvi didn’t want to see India getting photographed with the trophy, with organisers eventually whisking the trophy away into the dressing room after prolonged delays.
READ ALSO: Rs 21 crore bonanza! BCCI rewards Team India after record 9th Asia Cup winSources revealed that the Indian team had already informed the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) that Naqvi, who is also Pakistan’s interior minister, was an unacceptable figure to present the trophy. The refusal followed a series of frosty exchanges during the tournament — from no handshakes between players, to the absence of the traditional pre-toss photoshoot.
An ACC source further revealed that the Indian team made it clear they didn’t want Naqvi on the podium.
Team India celebrates the Asia Cup win on the podium without the trophy.
In another twist, the Pakistan players remained inside their dressing room for nearly an hour after the match, leaving Naqvi stranded on stage. When skipper Salman Agha and his team eventually emerged, they were greeted by deafening chants of “Indiaaaa, Indiaaaa” from the crowd.
On the field, however, India’s win was emphatic. Tilak Varma anchored the chase with an unbeaten 69 off 53 balls, adding a crucial 60-run stand with Shivam Dube (33). Earlier, Kuldeep Yadav’s 4-30 dismantled Pakistan’s middle order, restricting them to 146 after a promising start from
Sahibzada Farhan (57) and Fakhar Zaman (46).
While India celebrated yet another continental crown, the night will be remembered as much for the cricket as for the chaotic and unprecedented trophy fiasco that followed.
Catch Lovlina Borgohain's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 5. Watch Here Pratyush Raj is a cricket journalist with TOI Sports, specializin...
Read MorePratyush Raj is a cricket journalist with TOI Sports, specializing in all things cricket, both on and off the field. He began his career with the Business Standard before following his passion as a sports reporter for the Times of India in Chandigarh. Pratyush has also contributed to the sports coverage of India Today Group and his last stint was with The Indian Express. His love for sports was nurtured during his upbringing in flood-prone Saharsa, a district in North Bihar, where Cricket Samrat was his constant companion.
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