India refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy at the presentation ceremony after beating Pakistan by five wickets in Dubai on Sunday. The ceremony was delayed by over an hour, reportedly due to India’s objection to receiving the trophy from Asian Cricket Council president Mohsin Naqvi, who is also Pakistan Cricket Board chairman and Pakistan’s interior minister.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed India’s decision, saying, “We have decided not to take the Asia Cup trophy from the ACC chairman, who happens to be one of the main political leaders of Pakistan.” He added that India expected the trophy and medals to be returned promptly and that a formal protest would be raised at the upcoming ICC conference in Dubai in November.
The final had ended around 10:30 pm Dubai time, but the presentation was delayed until nearly midnight. During the ceremony, Kuldeep Yadav, Abhishek Sharma, and Tilak Varma received individual awards from other dignitaries, while Pakistan captain Salman Agha accepted the runners-up cheque. The trophy itself was removed from the stage without explanation before India could collect it.
India captain Suryakumar Yadav expressed disappointment, saying, “This is something I have never seen in cricket — a champion team denied their trophy. We deserved it.” He stressed the team had made the decision themselves and called the real trophy the effort and journey of the team throughout the Asia Cup.
The incident reflected broader tensions, as India had earlier refused to shake hands with Pakistan players in this tournament. The rivalry intensified during the series, with verbal spats, fines, and gestures exchanged, ensuring the final ended not just as a cricket contest but a politically charged encounter.
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