TNR News Network
DHARAMSHALA: In what should have been a night of celebration for Team India after their emphatic victory over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 final, the cricketing world instead witnessed an unprecedented diplomatic and sporting drama that left players, fans and officials stunned.
India not only beat Pakistan on the field — chasing down a tricky target with five wickets to spare — but also took a moral stand off the field that led to an awkward standoff at the post-match presentation.
What followed was a moment fit for a political thriller, with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief and federal minister Mohsin Naqvi walking off the stage with the trophy, triggering global outrage and sharp reactions from the Indian camp.
The trophy nobody would take (from Naqvi)
Sources inside the Indian dressing room confirmed that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had already informed the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) of its decision: Team India would not accept the Asia Cup trophy or medals from Mohsin Naqvi, who is not only the PCB chairman but also a Pakistani federal minister, a position India found diplomatically sensitive and politically inappropriate.
Despite repeated attempts at back-channel communication requesting a neutral dignitary, such as Emirates Cricket Board Vice Chairman Khalid Al Zarooni, Naqvi insisted on presiding over the ceremony.
As the Indian team waited in the dressing room, Naqvi stood awkwardly on the podium, trophy in hand, flanked by other officials. But with India refusing to come out for the ceremony, the post-match presentation hit a deadlock.
Frustrated and visibly irked, Naqvi stormed off the stage, taking the trophy and winners’ medals with him, a moment captured by cameras and now viral on social media under hashtags like #TrophyGate and #NaqviWalksOff.
Suryakumar says never seen anything like this
Speaking at the post-match press conference, India captain Suryakumar Yadav was clearly emotional and disappointed.
“This is something I’ve never seen in all my years of cricket, a champion team being denied a trophy, that too after winning it fair and square,” said Yadav. “If you ask me about the real trophies, they’re sitting in our dressing room — all 14 players, the support staff — that’s our Asia Cup.”
India later celebrated on the empty podium, posing with their arms raised in triumph, but without any medals or the actual trophy.
BCCI slams ‘trophy theft’, ICC protest on the way
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia came down heavily on Naqvi’s actions, calling them “unsportsmanlike, disgraceful, and unprecedented in the history of cricket.”
“He had no right to take the trophy and medals with him. These were meant for the Indian team. To walk off with them because of a disagreement is not diplomacy — it’s drama,” Saikia said.
He added that the BCCI would file a formal protest with the International Cricket Council (ICC) during the upcoming board meetings in Dubai in November. “This is not just about a trophy — it’s about conduct, integrity, and respecting the game. We are taking this very seriously.”
Why did India refuse Naqvi?
The issue wasn’t personal, Saikia clarified, but political. “We had made it clear that we would prefer receiving the trophy from a neutral or tournament-hosting board official. Having a Pakistani minister hand it over to our players, while political tensions remain high, was not acceptable,” Saikia explained.
Naqvi, however, refused to yield. When the Indian team didn’t show up, he reportedly ordered ACC staff to remove the medals and trophy, and then left the stadium with the items in his possession.
Multiple witnesses claim Naqvi took them directly to his hotel suite, sparking anger within both the Indian cricket camp and fans worldwide.
As of Monday morning, the Asia Cup trophy and winners’ medals remain with the ACC, though unconfirmed reports suggest they may be sent to India privately or presented again during an ICC event.
The incident has snowballed into a major diplomatic embarrassment for the Asian Cricket Council, which is already facing scrutiny over venue arrangements and governance concerns. For now, India has the title, the bragging rights and public support. Pakistan may have the trophy, but not the victory.
