Mohsin Naqvi left Dubai stadium with the trophy after India's refusal to accept it from him© X (Twitter)
Team India refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy from ACC chief Mohsin Naqvi's hands after winning the finalNaqvi took the Asia Cup trophy and winners' medals with him, leaving India empty-handedBCCI condemned Naqvi's act and is set to lodge a protest against him
The nail-biting Asia Cup 2025 final ended on a dramatic note, with India securing a 5-wicket victory in Dubai on Sunday to clinch the title. However, the Indian team had to do the post-match ceremonies without the Asia Cup trophy, as the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief, Mohsin Naqvi, left the stadium with the trophy and the winners' medals. While it was expected that the Indian team would not be accepting the trophy from Naqvi's hands, the ACC chief's decision to not give the trophy to the winning team at all left everyone stunned.
Indian players celebrate after the Asia Cup 2025 win.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Devajit Saikia expressed his astonishment at Naqvi's act, slamming him for leaving the stadium with the trophy and the medals. Saikia also explained why India refused to accept the trophy from Naqvi, who also heads the Pakistan Cricket Board.
"India is fighting a war with a country, and a leader belonging to that country was supposed to hand over the trophy to us... We cannot accept a trophy from a person who represents a country that is waging a war against our country. So we have refused to take that trophy, but that does not mean that the gentleman will take the trophy and the medals, which are to be given to our country, to his own hotel room. That is totally unexpected, and we hope that his good sense will prevail, and he will send back the trophy to India as soon as possible, which will restore some semblance of morality. At least we are expecting that from him," Saikia said in a chat with ANI after the game.
The entire Asia Cup campaign saw the Indian team snub friendly gestures with their Pakistani counterparts. In fact, in the final, two different presenters-Ravi Shastri and Waqar Younis-were arranged by the broadcaster to speak with Suryakumar Yadav and Salman Ali Agha at the toss, respectively.
Saikia further said that the BCCI will lodge a strong protest against this act by the Asian Cricket Council chief.
"We are going to lodge a very strong protest against the behavior of the gentleman in today's prize distribution ceremony," he said.
The BCCI also announced a prize money of Rs 21 crores for the Indian team and support staff after an impressive Asia Cup title run.
"BCCI is extremely happy, and we congratulate the Indian cricket team for defeating Pakistan hands down at the group stage, at the Super Four, as well as in the final. All three matches were one-sided, and we congratulate our players as well as the support staff for bringing a lot of glory to our country. We are very proud of our team, and they have excellently delivered on the cricket pitch. Our armed forces have delivered it in the border area. Now the same thing has been repeated in Dubai. So this is an excellent moment, a momentous occasion for Indian cricket... We have decided that there will be a cash reward to the Indian team, which will be Rs 21 crores. It will be distributed amongst the players and all the support staff," he said.
