India Lift Asia Cup Without Trophy After PCB Row

In an unprecedented moment in cricket, India celebrated their Asia Cup triumph on Sunday night without the winners’ trophy, after refusing to receive it from Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi.

The post-match ceremony at the Dubai International Stadium was delayed for over an hour as tensions unfolded on stage. Captain Suryakumar Yadav confirmed that the Indian team had collectively decided not to accept the trophy from Naqvi, who also serves as president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).

“We as a team decided not to take the trophy (from Mohsin Naqvi). Nobody told us to do so. But I feel a team that wins the tournament deserves the trophy,” Suryakumar told reporters after India’s five-wicket win over Pakistan. He added that the decision was independent and that no external influence was involved.

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Trophy Denied

India had requested that the trophy be presented by Emirates Cricket Board vice-chairman Khalid Al Zarooni, who was also on stage. However, Naqvi reportedly did not allow this, leading to the trophy being removed before the ceremony began. Indian players went ahead with their celebrations minus the silverware, posing for photographs under confetti as the victory song played.

Despite the unusual climax, India secured the Asia Cup with a commanding performance. Pakistan, after being 113 for 1, collapsed to 146 all out against India’s spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy. Chasing the target, Tilak Varma guided India home with an unbeaten 69 in 19.4 overs.

Reactions From Both Camps

While Pakistan players collected their runners-up medals, and Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma received the Player of the Series and Player of the Tournament awards respectively, the trophy remained absent.

Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha strongly criticised India’s stance. “What India did – not shaking hands, not taking the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi – they are not only disrespecting us, they are also disrespecting the sport of cricket,” he said, adding that such behaviour sets a poor example for fans and youngsters.

This controversy followed earlier tension in the tournament when Suryakumar Yadav declined to shake hands with Salman Ali Agha during the group stage clash on September 14.

Wider Context

The Asia Cup was the first cricketing contest between India and Pakistan since the Pahalgam terror attack in April and subsequent cross-border hostilities in May. The political climate around the tournament heightened speculation that India would refuse to collect the trophy from Naqvi, who also holds a ministerial position in Pakistan and had made a provocative social media post during the competition.

As the dignitaries exited the stage on Sunday night, the Indian players marked their victory their own way—without medals, without the trophy, but with the crowd on their side.

India’s players have since returned home with their medals and player awards, but the Asia Cup trophy itself remains with the Asian Cricket Council.