Former Indian cricketer Syed Kirmani has voiced his disappointment over the India-Pakistan rivalry spilling into the Asia Cup 2025 final ceremony. After the Men in Blue clinched a thrilling five-wicket victory over arch-rivals Pakistan at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, the Indian team refused to accept the trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi—who also serves as Pakistan’s interior minister.
Speaking to from Bengaluru, Kirmani lamented the growing lack of sportsmanship in modern cricket. “The way cricket is played these days, there’s no gentlemanly spirit left,” he said. “I’ve been getting messages from fans everywhere asking what politics is creeping into the game. It’s shameful—the rude and arrogant behavior on the field. What happened at the Asia Cup is disgusting. Politics has no place in sports. Leave it out of the game and focus on the wins and the joy cricket brings.”
During the post-match presentation, tensions were clear to see. Indian stars Kuldeep Yadav, Abhishek Sharma, and Tilak Varma picked up their individual awards from other dignitaries on stage, steering clear of Naqvi. Pakistan captain Salman Agha’s team accepted the runners-up cheque from him, but the Indians didn’t acknowledge the ACC chief. Naqvi, in turn, held back applause as the Indian players received their honors. Host broadcaster presenter Simon Doull wrapped things up by announcing, “I’ve been told by the ACC that the Indian team won’t collect their awards tonight.”
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia later confirmed the decision, explaining it stemmed from Naqvi’s high-profile role in Pakistan. “We chose not to take the Asia Cup 2025 trophy from the ACC chairman, who’s a key leader in Pakistan,” Saikia told . “But that doesn’t mean he’ll keep the trophy and medals. It’s an unfortunate and unsportsmanlike move, and we hope India gets them back soon.”
Adding to the post-victory buzz, India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav pledged to donate his match fees from the entire T20 Asia Cup to the Indian Army, celebrating the hard-fought win that boosted India’s cricket dominance.
Kirmani, a veteran of Indo-Pak cricket clashes, urged players to keep politics separate—even from good deeds. “Don’t tie noble causes to political tensions,” he advised. “In our era, we shared real camaraderie. Pakistani players visited India, Indians went to Pakistan—with so much hospitality and affection. As a former cricketer, I hang my head in sadness over how things have changed.”
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