(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
India’s cricket team made headlines in Dubai by clinching the Asia Cup 2025 T20I title with a thrilling five-wicket win over Pakistan, but the victory celebration took an unexpected turn. The Men in Blue refused to accept the trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi, sparking talk of tension between the rivals.
In the post-match ceremony at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Indian players like Kuldeep Yadav, Abhishek Sharma, and Tilak Varma picked up their individual awards from other officials on stage. Pakistan’s Salman Agha grabbed the runners-up cheque from Naqvi, but the Indians kept their distance. Naqvi didn’t clap for the Indian award winners, and the team showed no acknowledgment toward him.
Host broadcaster presenter Simon Doull wrapped things up quickly, saying the ACC informed him that India’s team wouldn’t collect their awards that night. This ended the ceremony on an awkward note.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia later cleared the air, telling that India turned down the Asia Cup 2025 trophy from Naqvi—who also serves as Pakistan’s interior minister—because of his key role in Pakistani leadership. “We decided not to take it from him,” Saikia explained. “But it doesn’t mean he’ll walk away with our trophy and medals. It’s unfortunate and unsportsmanlike—we hope they return everything to India soon.”
India’s skipper Suryakumar Yadav downplayed the drama when speaking to . “I won’t call it a controversy,” he said. “You’ve seen people posting trophy photos everywhere, but the real trophy is winning hearts—the trust from fans, players, support staff, and everyone working behind the scenes. That’s what counts, along with the hard work on the field.”
Tilak Varma starred in the final with a solid half-century, building key partnerships with Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube to chase down Pakistan’s total and secure India’s second T20I Asia Cup crown. This marks their ninth overall Asia Cup title, counting the ODI versions. Under Suryakumar’s captaincy, India has dominated T20Is with 18 wins, just two losses, and two ties since he took the helm.
Reflecting on the unbeaten run through the tournament, Suryakumar shared his joy: “It felt amazing. Winning without a single loss brings such a great vibe for the whole team and country. We had a blast sitting together last night, just enjoying the moment.”
In a heartfelt gesture after the India vs Pakistan showdown, Suryakumar announced he’d donate all his match fees from the T20 Asia Cup to support the Indian Armed Forces and victims of the recent Pahalgam terror attack. “On my way to the press conference, I thought about how we can help our people,” he told . “If everyone chips in a bit, it adds up. Things moved so fast that I couldn’t say it all then, but I’ll do whatever I can for the armed forces and those affected.”
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