The drama continued lengthy after India beat Pakistan in a final-over thriller to win the Asia Cup as Suryakumar Yadav’s workforce refused to just accept the trophy from the Asia Cricket Council (ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman who can be the nation’s Inside Minister. With Naqvi insisting that he would give away the trophy, the ceremony was delayed by over an hour earlier than it wound up and not using a trophy presentation.
The Indian gamers, it’s understood, had been able to obtain the trophy from Vice Chairman of the Emirates Cricket Board Khalid Al Zarooni. However Naqvi refused to offer in. Because the delay dragged on, the trophy was taken away by officers.
In accordance with sources, the rapid set off for the Indian cricketers refusing to just accept the trophy from Naqvi was his reposting of photographs on X — together with one titled ‘Remaining Day’ wherein Pakistan cricketers, together with captain Salman Agha and quick bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi, are seen sporting flight fits with photographs of airborne fighter jets within the background. Earlier in the course of the match, Naqvi had posted an image of Cristiano Ronaldo depicting a crashing airplane.
Staff India poses for {a photograph} after successful the Asia Cup cricket remaining in opposition to Pakistan at Dubai Worldwide Cricket Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. (AP Photograph/Altaf Qadri)
“I’ve by no means seen a champion (workforce) not getting a trophy. We deserved it. The actual trophies are my 14 colleagues and they’re going to keep in my reminiscence,” India captain Suryakumar Yadav mentioned within the post-match media briefing.
I’ve by no means seen a champion (workforce) not getting a trophy. We deserved it.
This was the third assembly of India and Pakistan within the match. The primary two had been marked by comfy wins for India — and really fraught references to a rivalry that wasn’t fairly cricket. India had refused to shake fingers with the Pakistani gamers from their first recreation right here, with Suryakumar dedicating the win on the time to the households of victims of the Pahalgam terror assault that killed 26 individuals.
Days after the Pahalgam assault, India had retaliated with Operation Sindoor, focusing on terror infrastructure in PoK and Pakistan and triggering a tense navy standoff in April-Could lasting three days.
In Dubai, the connection between the 2 sides turned bitter after the no-handshake gesture. Subsequently, Naqvi supported a transfer for the workforce to boycott the remainder of the Asia Cup. “If we needed to go to boycott, which was a really massive determination — the prime minister, authorities officers and plenty of different individuals had been additionally concerned, and we obtained their full assist. We had been monitoring the problem,” he mentioned throughout a press convention in Lahore. “We consider that politics and sports activities can’t go collectively. That is sports activities, and let it stay a sport. Cricket needs to be separate from all this,” he added.
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On Sunday night time, India’s cricketers solely stepped onto the rostrum on the Dubai Worldwide Stadium to obtain particular person awards from different dignitaries. Then, the gamers shortly left the stadium.
In actual fact, there have been indicators instantly after the match that the awards ceremony can be delayed. Nearly 20 minutes had handed after Rinku Singh hit the successful runs and the organisers had erected the dais. Pakistan’s cricketers had retreated to the dressing room. The Indians had been scattered on one aspect of the bottom. Nothing occurred. Officers had been noticed strolling urgently to resolve the problem. Umpires and the match referee did their spherical of negotiations, however to little evident outcome.
The delay prompted boos from the stands, by then half empty and with just a few Indian supporters remaining. On TV, commentator Ravi Shastri mentioned it was ridiculous for the gamers to have to attend for 45 minutes for the presentation after the sport’s conclusion.