India successfully defended its Asia Cup title with a five-wicket victory over Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 28, 2025, but the celebrations took a politically charged turn when the team declined to accept the trophy from ACC President Mohsin Naqvi, who also chairs the Pakistan Cricket Board. The post-match ceremony was delayed by over an hour and ended abruptly without the trophy presentation.
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed the decision, stating that the team refused the trophy due to Naqvi’s position as a key figure in Pakistan. The Board intends to formally raise a protest at the next International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting. Despite the controversy, Indian players Tilak Varma, Abhishek Sharma, and Kuldeep Yadav accepted their individual awards, while Naqvi remained the only official not applauding the Indian recipients.
Throughout the tournament, Indian players maintained distance from Pakistan counterparts, avoiding handshakes both at the toss and after matches. Captain Suryakumar Yadav dedicated the win to India’s armed forces, referencing the May military clashes with Pakistan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi echoed this sentiment on social media, calling the victory “#OperationSindoor on the games field” and congratulating the team. President Droupadi Murmu also commended the players on X.
On the field, Pakistan struggled to capitalize on an 84-run opening partnership, ultimately being bowled out for 146, with India’s left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav taking 4 wickets for 30 runs. India stumbled to 20-3 before a composed partnership between Varma, Sanju Samson, and Shivam Dube steered the team to victory.
The final was overshadowed by the trophy refusal, with Pakistan receiving runner-up medals in largely empty stands. Vice-captain Shubman Gill celebrated India’s unbeaten run through the tournament, while Pakistan captain Salman Agha expressed disappointment, attributing their loss to batting failures despite strong bowling performances. The Asia Cup, the ACC’s premier cricket tournament, concluded amid heightened political and sporting tensions.
