The Asia Cup 2025 may have concluded on the field with India’s dramatic victory over Pakistan, but the contest has raged on off the pitch, spiraling into a full-blown governance crisis and diplomatic spectacle that’s gripped the cricketing world. What should have been a night of celebration for Suryakumar Yadav’s unbeaten Indian squad instead became a saga of missing trophies, heated boardroom showdowns, and accusations of political interference at the highest levels of Asian cricket.
It all began in Dubai on September 28, 2025, when India overcame their archrivals Pakistan in a pulsating final. Yet, as the players waited expectantly for their moment of glory, the Asia Cup trophy and medals were nowhere to be found. In a scene that stunned fans and broadcasters alike, commentator Simon Doull announced live, “I have been informed by the ACC that the Indian cricket team will not be collecting their awards tonight. So that does conclude the post-match presentation.” The Indian squad, denied their crowning moment, could do little but mimic holding an imaginary trophy for the cameras.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav later voiced his disbelief to The Indian Express, stating, “We didn’t close the door and sit inside the dressing room. We didn’t make anyone wait for the presentation ceremony. Trophy leke bhaag gaye woh (They ran away with the trophy). That’s what I saw. I don’t know, some people were making a video of us, but we were standing. We didn’t go inside.” The bizarre episode quickly snowballed into a major controversy, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) demanding answers from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Chief and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
As the dust settled, it emerged that Naqvi had taken the trophy and medals to his hotel room in Dubai after abruptly leaving the presentation ceremony. The BCCI, already irked by what they saw as a breach of ceremonial protocol and disrespect toward the victorious Indian side, pressed for immediate action. According to NDTV sources, BCCI officials Rajeev Shukla and Ashish Shelar confronted Naqvi during a virtual ACC meeting on September 30, 2025, insisting, “the trophy belongs to the legitimate winners, India, and was not the property of any individual.” They further demanded that Naqvi issue a formal congratulatory message to the Suryakumar-led team—a gesture he repeatedly refused to make during the tense exchanges.
Frustration mounted as Naqvi offered no clear assurance on when, or if, the trophy and medals would be delivered to India. A source at the meeting told Times of India, “Both Shukla and Shelar completely cornered Naqvi on the issue, which was not listed on the agenda but was taken up before the meeting ended. India raised a strong objection to Naqvi taking away the Asia Cup trophy and medals with him on Sunday night in Dubai after India beat Pakistan in the final by five wickets.” When BCCI officials proposed that the silverware be delivered to the ACC’s Dubai office so they could collect it directly, Naqvi deflected, prompting Shelar and Shukla to walk out in protest.
The standoff quickly escalated beyond the ACC boardroom. The BCCI, furious at what they described as “abuse of office” and “disregard for sporting standards,” announced plans to campaign for Naqvi’s impeachment as ACC chief and raise the matter at the upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting in November. “Naqvi cannot take the trophy to his hotel. Now Naqvi’s days in the ACC are numbered, and he will soon be shown the door. The BCCI will launch a campaign to remove Naqvi. We will raise this issue seriously at the ICC meeting in November. Such a person should not be allowed a place in the top institutions of international cricket,” a senior BCCI source told Dainik Jagran.
Naqvi, for his part, remained defiant. Amid swirling rumors, he rejected claims of having apologized to the BCCI. Taking to social media platform X, he declared, “Indian media thrives on lies, not facts. Let me make it absolutely clear: I have done nothing wrong and I have never apologised to the BCCI nor will I ever do so.” He further called the controversy “fabricated nonsense” and accused India of dragging politics into cricket, stating, “This fabricated nonsense is nothing but cheap propaganda, aimed only at misleading their own people. Unfortunately, India continues to drag politics into cricket, damaging the very spirit of the game.”
Naqvi’s stance was unwavering. “As ACC Chairman, I was ready to hand over the trophy that very day and I am still ready now. If they truly want it, they are welcome to come to the ACC office and collect it from me,” he insisted, reiterating that the Indian team could retrieve the trophy from his office in Dubai at their convenience. However, BCCI officials dismissed this as an attempt to shift blame and avoid accountability, pointing out that in previous years, the trophy presentation had not been bound to the ACC president’s personal involvement.
The row has drawn in other ACC member nations, with Malaysia, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka reportedly supporting India’s position. No country attending the recent AGM backed Naqvi’s actions. The incident has also sparked debate about the mixing of politics and sport, especially given the fraught backdrop of recent military conflict between India and Pakistan, which saw both sides claim victory in a deadly exchange just months before the tournament.
Political undertones have only intensified the drama. In response to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s post celebrating the Asia Cup win as a continuation of “Operation Sindoor,” Naqvi shot back, “Dragging war into sport only exposes desperation and disgraces the very spirit of the game.” The final itself was marked by tense moments, with Indian and Pakistani players exchanging military-style gestures and refusing handshakes, underscoring the simmering animosity that now seems to permeate every level of the rivalry.
For now, the Asia Cup trophy remains in limbo, reportedly handed over to the UAE cricket board for safekeeping amid the ongoing dispute. The BCCI is adamant that the trophy and medals must be delivered to the ACC office in Dubai, from where they will arrange collection. Naqvi, meanwhile, is said to be traveling to Lahore, with no indication of a resolution in sight.
This extraordinary standoff—an unprecedented mix of cricketing protocol, administrative infighting, and political posturing—has left fans, players, and officials alike wondering what comes next. With the ICC meeting looming and both sides digging in, the Asia Cup 2025 will be remembered as much for its off-field controversies as for the action on the pitch. One thing’s certain: the story of the missing trophy is far from over, and the world of cricket is watching every twist and turn.
