In an unprecedented move, the Asia Cup trophy was not presented to the victorious Indian team after they notably refused to accept it from Mohsin Naqvi, the head of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).
The incident unfolded on Sunday, September 28, 2025, when the Indian team, crowned Asia Cup champions, made a clear statement by declining to receive their prize from Naqvi, who serves both as ACC chairman and Pakistan’s Interior Minister and cricket board head.
As Naqvi took his position for the presentation, the Indian players remained rooted about 15 yards away, steadfastly refusing to move, causing a lengthy and awkward delay in the official proceedings.
Sources indicated that the Indian team management specifically questioned who was designated to present the trophy. This immediately sent the ACC into a frantic discussion, as it became evident their chairman was not an agreeable choice for the winning side.
When Naqvi eventually stepped onto the presentation stage, he was met with a chorus of boos from the Indian spectators, who loudly chanted ‘Bharat Maata Ki Jai’ (Victory to Mother India).
Upon reaching the dais, Naqvi was explicitly informed that the Indian team would not accept the trophy if he insisted on presenting it, threatening to lodge an official protest. While Naqvi waited, the trophy was unexpectedly taken back into the dressing room by an organizer.
This public refusal was consistent with India’s earlier actions during the tournament, where they had refrained from shaking hands with Pakistani players across all three Asia Cup matches and bypassed the traditional pre-toss photoshoot, signaling their reluctance to engage with the ACC chairman.
Adding to the drama, Pakistani players did not exit their dressing room for over an hour after the match concluded, leaving only their chairman in an awkward position, ready to perform the presentation duties according to the continental body’s protocol.
Approximately 55 minutes later, Salman Agha and his teammates finally appeared, only to be met with resounding chants of ‘India!’ from the crowd.