Dubai What should have been a joyous celebration became cricket’s most controversial reward ceremony when India refused to accept the trophy after winning the Asia Cup 2025 title in a dramatic standoff that left cricket reeling.
After his team fell by five wickets in Sunday’s final at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Pakistani skipper Salman Agha was uninhibited in his criticism of India’s performance during the game. India’s shenanigans, he said, had “disrespected cricket” itself.
Pakistan captain Salman Agha’s strong statement that India “disrespected cricket”
“I think what has happened in this tournament is very disappointing,” Agha said to reporters during a contentious press conference following the game. They degraded cricket, in my opinion, if they believe that by not shaking hands, they disrespected us. A good squad doesn’t do what they did today. What we have done is what good teams do.
when India’s winning team was refused to receive the Asia Cup trophy at a presentation ceremony postponed by more than an hour.
The trophy supposed to presented by Mohsin Naqvi, the president of the Asian Cricket Council and chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
In light of the growing political tensions amongst the surrounding countries, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia made it quite plain that India will not accept the trophy from Naqvi.
India’s refusal to accept the trophy from ACC president Mohsin Naqvi
In an unusual gesture, Naqvi took the medals and silverware with him as he left the stadium, making India the nominal champions without the tangible evidence of their triumph.
“We cannot accept a trophy from him,” Saikia stated, referencing the dual role that has become a flashpoint in cricket’s most heated rivalry.
However, the drama surrounding the trophy was only the result of two weeks of stress that started with an unfulfilled handshake.
Although neither side shook hands prior to the match, India and Pakistan played their first match of the league on September 14.
Minutes before the toss, Andy Pycroft, the referee for the ICC match, told that the captains would not shake hands. The cricket community upset by this action.
Suryakumar Yadav, the captain of India, later admitted that his team had made a decision before the match in compliance with BCCI regulations.
Following the first clash, Salman Agha, Pakistan’s acting captain, replied by completely missing the post-match presentation ceremony.
Referee Richie Richardson told ; the Indian captain should not say anything that was interpreted as political.
The handshake controversy that began the tournament tensions
India maintained their dominance on the field despite all of the controversy off it. They defeated Pakistan three times, twice in the group stages and once more in the final on Sunday, extending their winning streak through the competition.
Tilak Varma’s courageous, unbeaten 69 took India home after they stumbled to 10 for 2 in the third over, clinically chasing down Pakistan’s score.
Despite the on-field loss, Agha was keen to highlight what he saw to be his team’s moral advantage. “We waited for our medals and took them,” he said. “It for the first time.”
Instead, the finest cricketers of the nation would be renowned for having performed in the contest where diplomacy was murdered and part of the game was lost.
The argument continued after the final delivery. “Even the big screen in the stadium showed we won, but unfortunately we didn’t get over the line,” Suryakumar stated.
It should have been a time for joy and congratulations, not drama.
It has been difficult for cricket fans and historians to remember a similar instance in which the victorious team declined to receive their trophy.
The 2025 Asia Cup, which ought to have featured the following mains.
At what point did winning on the field become insufficient? More significantly, will cricket in the subcontinent ever be able to fully escape the political shadow?
India’s refusal to accept the trophy from ACC president Mohsin Naqvi
India is currently the Asia Cup victors,
But the trophy was in hands of the very official they refused to recognize not their cabinet.
When the game itself suffers, it appears that no one really wins in cricket’s most enduring and fierce rivalry.
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