The Indian cricket team refused to accept the Asia Cup 2025 trophy during the presentation ceremony at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. The decision sparked a dramatic standoff that delayed the event by more than an hour.
India Wins Thriller in Final Over
India defeated Pakistan by five wickets in a nail-biting final that went down to the last over. Tilak Varma’s unbeaten half-century guided the chase, while Kuldeep Yadav’s four-wicket haul helped restrict Pakistan earlier in the match.
Despite the intense on-field battle, the focus quickly shifted to off-field drama when the time came to hand over the trophy.
Controversy Over Who Would Present the Trophy
According to reports, the Indian players were informed that Mohsin Naqvi would present the trophy.
Naqvi currently serves as the chairman of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), the chief of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), and Pakistan’s interior minister.
The Indian team rejected this arrangement, making it clear they did not want to interact with Naqvi.
They stated they would accept the trophy from any other dignitary but not from him, a stance fully supported by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Standoff Lasts Over an Hour
Naqvi stood firm, insisting that as the head of the ACC, only he could hand over the trophy. The Indian team refused to back down. As a result, the presentation ceremony came to a halt.
For more than an hour, Naqvi remained on the stage alongside other officials, while the Indian players waited nearby. Meanwhile, the Pakistan team stayed inside their dressing room during the tense standoff.
India beat Pakistan to defend their Asia Cup title but refused to accept the trophy from Pakistan's interior minister Mohsin Naqvi ,
— Santhosh Vishwakarma (@Santhoshv4Bjp) September 29, 2025
proud of you Guys Salute 🫡 pic.twitter.com/cLRljp0NRp
Negotiations Fail, Partial Ceremony Held
Reports suggest Naqvi tried to negotiate with the Indian side, but his efforts failed. Finally, the presentation ceremony began without the trophy handover.
Three Indian players — Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, and Kuldeep Yadav — came forward to collect their individual awards from other dignitaries.
They also spoke briefly with presenter Simon Doull and posed for photographs.
Later, the Pakistan team arrived to collect their runners-up awards, which were given by other officials. Pakistani player Salman Agha received an award directly from Naqvi and spoke to Doull on stage.
Indian Team Declines Trophy
When it was time for the trophy presentation, Simon Doull announced that the Indian team had decided not to receive the Asia Cup trophy. This brought the unusual and tense ceremony to an abrupt close.
The standoff marked one of the rare moments in cricket history where the winning team refused to accept the tournament trophy, highlighting the growing tensions between the two cricket boards.