The tale of a denied trophy, endless politics and some cricket

India plans a 'very strong protest' at the ICC meeting in November over the incident

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A day after India clinched their ninth Asia Cup title with a five-wicket victory over Pakistan, the spotlight refused to linger on the team's unbeaten campaign or their Rs 21 crore prize fund. Instead, a trophy presentation marred by political tensions has set off one of the most controversial debates in recent cricket history.

Suryakumar Yadav's men had held their nerves through seven matches, completing the campaign with Tilak Varma's unbeaten 69 sealing the summit clash. Yet, when the moment came for the winners to lift the silverware, the stage turned into a symbol of hostility between India and Pakistan rather than a sporting celebration.

Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Mohsin Naqvi also Pakistan's Interior Minister and chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board ~ stood waiting on the presentation dais with the trophy in hand. The Indian team, however, declined to step forward, refusing to accept the award from him.

The reason, as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) later clarified, lay in Naqvi's past anti-India remarks and his public ridicule of India’s ‘Operation Sindoor’ a military response after 26 Indian citizens were killed in a Pakistan-backed terror attack in Pahalgam earlier this year.

Caught in a deadlock, Naqvi eventually left the stage, followed by ACC staff carrying the trophy. The hardware remains at the ACC headquarters in Dubai, leaving India with medals and prize money but no physical trophy.

“This is one thing which I have never seen since I started playing and following cricket—that a champion team is denied a trophy. It was a hard-earned win,” captain Suryakumar Yadav said, struggling to mask his disappointment.

The drama unfolded as players’ families, including Yadav’s wife Devisha and head coach Gautam Gambhir’s family, stood on the ground expecting a traditional victory celebration.