The conclusion of the Asia Cup 2025 turned chaotic after a major controversy broke out involving Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chairman Mohsin Naqvi. India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, defeated Pakistan by five wickets in the final on September 28 at the Dubai International Stadium. However, the post-match presentation ceremony took an unexpected turn when the Indian team refused to accept the trophy from Naqvi.
The situtaion resulted in a one-hour delay, and despite players like Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, and Kuldeep Yadav collecting their individual awards, the main trophy was not handed over to India. Naqvi then walked off with the silverware, which is currently at the ACC headquarters. He has stated that the trophy will eventually be given to India, but the incident has sparked outrage in the cricketing world.
Harbhajan Slams Naqvi’s Actions
Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh strongly criticised Naqvi’s conduct, accusing him of running away with the trophy instead of presenting it to the rightful winners. Harbhajan also commented on the broader controversies surrounding the Asia Cup, including the pre-match handshake saga, and questioned whether the tournament should have taken place at all. His remarks reflect the frustration within Indian cricket circles over Naqvi’s behaviour and the growing tensions between the two cricket boards.
He said :
“India won the tournament, and that is their biggest trophy. I don’t think Naqvi or anyone else is big enough to decide whether the trophy should be awarded or not. If not today, then tomorrow the trophy will be given, so what’s the point of keeping it aside? We have won it, and the trophy will come to us one day or another.”
Heated Meeting and Next Steps
The trophy standoff was further discussed during a heated ACC meeting, where BCCI officials Rajeev Shukla and Ashish Shelar questioned Naqvi about his actions. Despite repeated inquiries, Naqvi did not give a clear timeline for when the trophy would be returned. He also clarified that he had not apologised to the BCCI, instead suggesting that India could collect the trophy from the ACC headquarters.
The Asia Cup 2025 was already marred by political and diplomatic tensions, held in the shadow of the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. India dominated the tournament, defeating Pakistan three times, including in the final. The BCCI has now decided to escalate the matter and will raise concerns about Naqvi’s conduct with the ICC in a meeting scheduled for November 2025. Despite the controversy, the Indian team remains the undisputed champion of the tournament.
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