The highly anticipated Asia Cup 2025 final in Dubai concluded not with celebratory cheers, but with shocking scenes of chaos. Following India’s victory over Pakistan, the presentation ceremony spiraled into disarray as Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman and ACC president, Mohsin Naqvi, reportedly left the venue with the winner’s trophy.
Despite securing their record-extending ninth Asia Cup title with a five-wicket win against Pakistan, the Indian team firmly declined to receive the trophy from Naqvi. The players maintained their distance from the stage, making it clear to organizers they would not participate in a presentation involving the PCB chief.
This unprecedented refusal brought the entire ceremony to a standstill. Amidst the palpable tension, Indian fans in the stadium vociferously booed and chanted ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai,’ intensifying the already hostile environment. It became evident that Naqvi was unwilling to witness India posing with the coveted trophy, as organizers eventually removed the silverware to the dressing room after significant delays.
According to sources, the Indian team had previously communicated to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) that Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s interior minister, was deemed an inappropriate person to present the championship trophy. This defiance was reportedly a culmination of several strained interactions throughout the tournament, including a notable lack of handshakes between players and the cancellation of the customary pre-toss photoshoot.
An ACC insider further confirmed that the Indian contingent explicitly stated their opposition to Naqvi being on the presentation podium.
Adding another layer of drama, the Pakistan players delayed their exit from the dressing room for almost an hour post-match, leaving Naqvi isolated on the stage. When Captain Salman Agha and his team finally appeared, they were met with overwhelming chants of ‘Indiaaaa, Indiaaaa’ from the crowd.
Beyond the off-field theatrics, India’s performance on the pitch was undeniably dominant. Tilak Varma was the lynchpin of the chase, scoring an unbeaten 69 off 53 deliveries and forging a vital 60-run partnership with Shivam Dube (33). Earlier, Kuldeep Yadav’s masterful spell of 4 for 30 ripped through Pakistan’s middle order, limiting them to 146 runs despite strong starts from Sahibzada Farhan (57) and Fakhar Zaman (46).
Ultimately, while India celebrated their continental supremacy, the evening will be etched in memory as much for the thrilling cricket as for the bizarre and unprecedented trophy controversy that overshadowed it.