The 2025 Asia Cup men’s cricket final ended not just with high drama on the field, but also with unprecedented controversy off it, as the Indian team refused to collect the winners’ trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief and Pakistan Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi.
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India secured a record-extending ninth Asia Cup title after a tense five-wicket win over Pakistan in the final, chasing down the target in the last over. However, the celebrations were overshadowed when skipper Suryakumar Yadav and his team declined to take part in the customary post-match ceremony, delaying proceedings and igniting political debate across the region.
Political undertones and symbolic snub
The refusal to accept the trophy from Naqvi marked a historic low in cricket diplomacy between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. India had signaled unease earlier in the day when captain Suryakumar skipped the traditional pre-toss photo session with Naqvi.
During the closing ceremony, commentator Simon Doull confirmed the development: “I have been informed by the ACC that the Indian cricket team will not be collecting their awards tonight.”
This deliberate snub not only avoided customary handshakes between the two sides but also highlighted the deep political rift spilling over into sports. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi fueled the narrative further by posting on X: “Operation Sindoor on the game’s field. Outcome is the same — India wins! Congrats to our cricketers.”
Match recap: a roller-coaster contest
Earlier, Pakistan looked well set after an 84-run opening stand between Sahibzada Farhan (57) and Fakhar Zaman (46). But a sudden batting collapse saw them lose nine wickets for just 33 runs, folding for 146 with five balls left.
India’s left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav spearheaded the destruction with 4-30, dismantling Pakistan’s middle order.
In reply, India’s innings got off to a shaky start, with their top three — including captain Suryakumar and in-form opener Abhishek Sharma — dismissed inside the first 10 deliveries. Pakistan’s bowlers, led by Haris Rauf and Abrar Ahmed, had the defending champions in trouble at 20-3.
Tilak Varma, however, played the anchor role, stitching together partnerships with Sanju Samson (24) and Shivam Dube (33). Varma remained unbeaten and sealed victory with a six in the final over, guiding India to another memorable triumph.
Post-match reactions
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha admitted his side failed to finish strongly with the bat: “We could not rotate the strike properly, and we lost too many wickets. That was the reason we could not score what we wanted. The bowlers did their job, but the batting was a concern.”
Despite the loss, Salman praised his team’s fight and vowed improvement: “We are proud as a team. So much to look forward to, we will improve and come back stronger.”
Fallout and significance
India’s refusal to collect the trophy from Naqvi will be remembered as one of the most politically charged moments in cricket history. For decades, cricket has often served as a bridge for diplomacy between Pakistan and India, but the Asia Cup 2025 final may instead symbolize the widening gulf.
For Pakistan, the night was bittersweet — a competitive performance undermined by a batting collapse and overshadowed by political theatrics. For India, the record ninth Asia Cup title added to their cricketing glory but left a shadow over sportsmanship and regional cricketing relations.
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