The Asia Cup 2025, one of cricket’s most prestigious tournaments, has ended not with the usual fanfare but with a controversy that’s set the cricketing world—and social media—ablaze. What should have been a moment of celebration for Team India has spiraled into a diplomatic and sporting standoff, with the champions left without their trophy and the cricketing fraternity divided over the fallout.
On September 28, 2025, India clinched a record-extending ninth Asia Cup title in Dubai, defeating archrivals Pakistan by five wickets. But instead of the traditional trophy-lifting ceremony, the final whistle marked the beginning of a saga no one saw coming. The Indian team, led by captain Suryakumar Yadav, refused to accept the trophy and medals from Mohsin Naqvi, who serves both as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief and president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). The reason? Strained geopolitical relations between India and Pakistan, which had reached a boiling point following the recent Pahalgam terror attack and India’s subsequent military action under 'Operation Sindoor.'
Team India’s request was clear: have the trophy and medals presented by the vice-chairman of the Emirates Cricket Board instead of Naqvi. But Naqvi rejected the appeal. The presentation ceremony, delayed by over an hour, eventually went ahead with Indian players receiving individual awards from other dignitaries. However, when Naqvi stepped onto the stage, the Indian squad declined to accept the trophy from him. The silverware was then quietly removed from the venue, leaving the newly crowned champions without their prize—a sight that stunned fans around the globe.
Reports soon surfaced that Naqvi had asked Suryakumar Yadav to collect the trophy personally from the ACC office in Dubai. This move, seen by many as an additional slight, only added fuel to the fire. At the subsequent ACC annual meeting, BCCI representatives Rajeev Shukla and Ashish Shelar raised a "strong objection," arguing that the trophy is the property of the ACC and should be presented to the rightful winners in accordance with cricketing protocol. Naqvi, however, stood his ground, insisting that he had been disrespected and was unaware of India’s decision not to accept the trophy from him. "If they truly want it, they are welcome to come to the ACC office and collect it from me," Naqvi declared in a strongly worded statement posted on X.
In that same post, Naqvi didn’t mince words: "Let me make it absolutely clear: I have done nothing wrong and I have never apologized to the BCCI nor will I ever do so. 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." He further accused the Indian media of thriving on "lies, not facts." The BCCI, for its part, called the episode "unsportsmanlike" and indicated that it may escalate the matter to the International Cricket Council (ICC) at its November meeting.
The controversy has drawn sharp opinions from across the cricketing world. Former Pakistani cricketer Basit Ali jumped into the fray, backing Naqvi’s stance and criticizing the Indian team’s decision. Speaking to Arynews TV, Ali said, "They are the No. 1-ranked team, but their actions are third-rate. Mohsin Naqvi will present the trophy—if they refuse to accept, they would be disgraced in the eyes of the world. The trophy should not be handed over." Ali also pointed out the irony, noting that if the roles were reversed—if Pakistan had refused to accept the trophy from an Indian official—Pakistan would have been roundly condemned.
India’s captain addressed the situation in a post-match press conference, describing it as unprecedented for a winning team to be denied their trophy. He emphasized, though, that "being the deserving champions meant more to the team than the physical trophy." The squad, undeterred by the absence of silverware, continued their celebrations, their spirits seemingly unaffected by the off-field drama.
But the saga didn’t end there. The controversy took on a new dimension when cricket legend Kapil Dev weighed in, urging India to "move on" from the boycott and focus on the game. In a television interview, the 1983 World Cup-winning captain remarked, "I think when they (Team India) didn’t shake hands, it was fine. Shaking hands is not a big thing… You can’t linger on for these types of things. You have to move on. Let the government do that job. Let the politician do that job. Our job was to make an impact, which the Indian team did—not once but three times." His comments, however, sparked a fierce backlash both online and among public figures. Retired Lieutenant General Kanwal Jeet Singh Dhillon accused Kapil of showing a "soft corner" for Pakistan, while others called his stance “anti-national drivel.” The debate quickly escalated, with critics questioning whether Kapil Dev should continue in ambassadorial roles after such remarks.
Meanwhile, the BCCI’s frustration has not abated. Officials have stated that the trophy is not the personal property of any individual, but belongs to the ACC and must be handed to the rightful winners. Yet, with no amicable solution found at the ACC meeting, the matter has been deferred to another session. The BCCI is reportedly preparing to take a firm stance against Naqvi, with some sources suggesting they may push for his removal as ACC president if the impasse continues.
The Asia Cup 2025 was already marked by tension, with India and Pakistan facing off three times during the tournament—India emerging victorious on each occasion. The Indian team’s 'no handshake policy' with Pakistani players only deepened the divide, infuriating the PCB. Off the field, the situation between the two countries remains fraught, with the tragic Pahalgam terror attack and subsequent military operations casting a long shadow over the cricketing contest.
As of now, the Asia Cup trophy remains in limbo, locked away at the ACC’s Dubai office, its fate uncertain. Indian cricket fans and players alike are left wondering whether their team will ever get to lay hands on the silverware that is rightfully theirs. With the BCCI threatening to escalate the issue to the ICC and Naqvi refusing to budge, the controversy shows no sign of abating.
For now, the champions celebrate their hard-fought victory without the trophy, but with their pride intact. As the cricketing world waits for a resolution, the Asia Cup 2025 will be remembered not just for India’s dominance on the field, but for a trophy row that has rewritten the script of sportsmanship and diplomacy in cricket.
