Dubai: India’s Asia Cup triumph over Pakistan on Sunday night ended in controversy as the team refused to accept the trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Pakistan’s interior minister.
The presentation ceremony, delayed for over an hour after India’s five-wicket win, concluded without the champions lifting the silverware. “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,” BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told ANI. He added that the Board expects the trophy and medals to be handed over soon and vowed a strong protest at the upcoming ICC conference in Dubai.
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During the ceremony, Indian players received their individual awards from other dignitaries, while Pakistan captain Salman Agha accepted the runners-up cheque. The Asia Cup trophy was quietly removed from the stage without explanation.
India captain Suryakumar Yadav expressed disappointment: “I think this is one thing I have never seen since I started playing cricket — that a champion team is denied a trophy, that too a hard-earned one. For me, my real trophies are my teammates and support staff.”
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The Indian squad later celebrated on the podium by holding up an “imaginary trophy,” while Pakistan’s camp criticised India’s refusal as unsporting.
