The Asia Cup 2025 trophy dispute continues to dominate headlines, nearly a month after India secured a five-wicket victory over Pakistan in the final at the Dubai International Stadium on September 28.
Despite India’s triumph, the team has yet to formally ‘lift’ the trophy. Reports indicate that the coveted silverware has been moved from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) headquarters in Dubai to an undisclosed location in Abu Dhabi.
Adding further complications, it is understood that the trophy remains under the custody of Mohsin Naqvi, who serves as both Pakistan’s Interior Minister and the head of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). A recent visit by a BCCI official to the ACC headquarters confirmed that the trophy had been removed and was in Naqvi’s possession.
Earlier this month, Naqvi laid down conditions for the trophy’s return, suggesting that Indian officials should personally collect it from him. He later offered to host a ceremony for the handover, but remained firm that an Indian official must attend the presentation.
Despite a formal letter from the BCCI requesting the trophy’s immediate handover, Naqvi has maintained his position. The original post-match presentation was already delayed by 90 minutes after India reportedly refused to accept the trophy on the dais, leading to its unexplained removal.
Meanwhile, a viral clip circulating in Pakistan has lauded Naqvi for his handling of the situation, portraying him as a “hero” for his steadfastness when the Indian team initially declined to accept the trophy. In the video, a speaker on stage remarked, “When they were standing on the ground and the Indian team wasn’t taking the trophy, he showed patience… Now all of India is running after the trophy.”
Pakistani media and various social platforms have framed the incident as a moment of national pride and authority, emphasizing Naqvi’s eventual retrieval of the trophy. Conversely, Indian players, including Tilak Varma, later shared how they improvised their own celebrations to keep the team spirit high amidst the uncertainty.
Speaking on ‘Breakfast with Champions,’ Tilak recounted, “We were actually waiting at the ground for one hour… Arshdeep suggested, let’s create an atmosphere — we’ll celebrate just like we did after the T20 World Cup in 2024, but without the trophy.”
While Pakistan revels in this controversial display, the incident has drawn significant criticism in India, where the champions’ on-field achievement continues to be overshadowed by the prolonged trophy dispute.
An ACC meeting held in late September failed to resolve the handover, leaving India’s Asia Cup 2025 triumph symbolically incomplete. The Asia Cup trophy saga remains unresolved, with ongoing cross-border tensions and political wrangling casting a long shadow over India’s victory in Dubai, almost a month after the final match.