In a one among its sort situation, ACC Chief Mohsin Naqvi went away from Dubai Stadium with the Asia Cup trophy after Indian gamers refused to simply accept it. The drama unfolded after India beat Pakistan within the Asia Cup 2025 remaining by 5 wickets.
Tensions between India and Pakistan have been operating excessive on and off the sector amongst gamers and followers. This comes towards the backdrop of the Pahalgam terrorist assault by Pakistan, adopted by India’s army operation, Operation Sindoor.
India-Pakistan tensions have been at an all-time excessive
Issues acquired heated within the pre-tournament captains’ press convention when there was plenty of chatter round Suryakumar Yadav shaking palms with Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha and ACC Chief Mohsin Naqvi on the occasion.
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Then, within the 1st group stage match between the two groups, the two captains didn’t shake palms on the toss. When India received the match, they denied shaking palms with Pakistan regardless of the latter ready for them in entrance of their dressing room.
Within the post-match presentation, Suryakumar Yadav devoted India’s win to the Indian Armed Forces for Operation Sindoor and the households of the victims of the Pahalgam Terror Assault. The captain and coach doubled down on this stance after the sport.
This was adopted by Salman Ali Agha’s boycotting the post-match presentation. Even ICC was dragged into the scenario as PCB alleged match referee Andy Pycroft of partiality with Pakistan. Nonetheless, regardless of all of the theatrics, ICC did not budge on its stance.
Political gestures and slang take the centre stage
Then got here the Tremendous 4 match between the two sides, whereby plenty of gesturing and posturing was concerned by gamers. particularly from Pakistan. Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan have been reprimanded for his or her motion, with Haris Rauf going through a 30 p.c match payment deduction.
Suryakumar Yadav was additionally docked 30 per cent of his match payment for making a political remark after the first match. Nonetheless, this didn’t appear to discourage the Indian captain as he humiliated Pakistan with no rivalry jibe after the 2nd match.
Arshdeep Singh’s video additionally surfaced a day after the Tremendous 4 stage, whereby he might be seen making an improper gesture at Pakistan followers. On the eve of the Asia Cup remaining, the PCB lodged an official grievance towards Arshdeep.
Earlier than the Asia Cup 2025 remaining, Salman Ali Agha hit out at Suryakumar Yadav and India’s antics whereas backing Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan’s actions.
Then got here the evening of the ultimate, and comparable scenes adopted in Dubai. Suryakumar Yadav didn’t pose with the trophy on the captain’s photoshoot, with Salman Agha being the lone attendee.
On the toss, the two captains did not shake palms once more, and when India got here to bowl, Jasprit Bumrah’s gesture mimicking Haris Rauf after taking the wicket raised eyebrows. With fast wickets within the energy play, Pakistan fought again exhausting.
Haris Rauf carried on along with his celebration, annoying the Indian followers and gamers after catching Abhishek Sharma. Then, Abrar Ahmed introduced out his trademark celebration after dismissing Sanju Samson.
Nonetheless, Tilak Varma held nerve, and his essential partnerships with Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube proved deadly for Pakistan as India received their third match within the event vs the Males in Inexperienced.
Mohsin Naqvi was humiliated on the world stage
After the match acquired over, the post-match presentation ceremony was delayed by an hour as Indian gamers refused to take the Asia Cup trophy from Mohsin Naqvi.
This got here after Mohsin Naqvi mocked India after the Tremendous 4 match, sharing an AI-generated video of Cristiano Ronaldo, hinting on the controversial Rafale Down gesture. Haris Rauf was fined for a similar gesture.
Mohsin Naqvi saved ready on the podium with ACC officers, convincing the Indian workforce to take the trophy from the ACC President. After an hour’s delay, the presentation ceremony was held with Mohsin Naqvi on stage.
Nonetheless, after the person awards have been shared, the presenter, Simon Doull, knowledgeable that the Indian workforce will not be amassing their profitable medal and the Asia Cup trophy tonight.
“Girls and gents, I’ve been knowledgeable by the Asian Cricket Council that the Indian cricket workforce is not going to be amassing their awards tonight. In order that does conclude the post-match presentation,” knowledgeable Simon Doull.
After being embarrassed by the Indian workforce, journalists from the venue reported that Mohsin Naqvi had taken the Asia Cup trophy with him as he did not need the Indian gamers to have a good time with the trophy.
The celebrations, nonetheless, went on with out the trophy by the Indian workforce after all of the dignitaries left the stage with out handing over the trophy. One of the crucial politically charged tournaments lastly pulled down the curtains, with extra drama off the sector.
This as soon as once more reiterates that Sport Directors like Mohsin Naqvi ought to train constraint and present extra maturity than the gamers and followers, as their success will all the time be measured by the graceful conduct of any occasion.
