Winners India refuse Asia Cup trophy from ACC Chief

REUTERS: India beat Pakistan to defend their Asia Cup title but refused to accept the trophy from Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi in a bizarre end to a politically-charged tournament on Sunday.

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Emotions ran high around the match between the nuclear-armed neighbours, who engaged in a brief military conflict in May that nearly escalated into full-scale war.

The teams clashed three times in the eight-team tournament in the United Arab Emirates with India prevailing on all three occasions.

After India beat Pakistan by five wickets in Sunday's final at the Dubai International Stadium, speculations swirled as the presentation ceremony got delayed by more than an hour and was subsequently cut short just before the winner's trophy was to be handed out.

"I have been informed by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) that the Indian cricket team will not be collecting their awards tonight," Simon Doull, who conducted the post-match presentation, said.

Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) Secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed their players had refused to accept the winner's trophy from ACC President Naqvi, who is also the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board.

"We have decided not to take the trophy from the ACC Chairman, who happens to be one of the main leaders of Pakistan," Saikia told news agency ANI.