India defended their Asia Cup title with a thrilling five-wicket win over Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday (September 28). But the victory was overshadowed by a shocking post-match controversy. The team refused to accept the trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
Reports said India had requested that Emirates Board vice chairman Khalid Al Zarooni present the trophy instead. The organisers denied the request. After a long delay, commentator Simon Doull announced that Team India would not collect the trophy at all.
Naqvi Leaves With the Trophy
Naqvi remained on the podium holding the silverware before eventually walking away with it. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia later said Naqvi “ran away with the cup, taking it back to his hotel room.”
This meant the champions ended the night without the traditional symbol of victory.
Team India Celebrates Without a Trophy
The incident did not dampen the spirits of the Indian players. The team gathered on the empty stage and celebrated in their own style. Captain Suryakumar Yadav pretended to hold the missing trophy as his teammates cheered.
Later, players including Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Shubman Gill, and Abhishek Sharma posted celebration photos on Instagram. To mock the fiasco, they added trophy emojis to the frames. Fans widely shared the posts, calling it a creative response to the bizarre episode.
Suryakumar Slams Fiasco
Suryakumar expressed his frustration after the game. He told reporters, “This is something I have never seen in all my years of playing and following cricket. A champion team was denied a trophy, and it was a hard-earned one. It was not easy. We played two strong games on back-to-back days. I felt we truly deserved it. I do not want to say much more.”
Despite the disappointment, he praised the team’s effort and said they had earned the title on merit.
BCCI Plans Formal Protest
The BCCI has indicated that it will raise the issue at the ICC meeting in November. Officials are likely to demand accountability for the trophy fiasco.
The incident has further strained relations between India and Pakistan in cricket. Both boards had already been under pressure after a series of off-field controversies during the tournament.
Political Backdrop Adds to Tension
The trophy row comes amid tense relations between the two nations. Earlier this year, terror attacks in Kashmir killed 26 civilians. India responded with airstrikes on militant camps in Pakistan-administered territory.
While both boards agreed to play the Asia Cup, the rivalry was evident. Indian players refrained from shaking hands with their Pakistani counterparts throughout the competition.
Champions With or Without a Trophy
Despite the off-field drama, India proved their dominance on the pitch. They chased down Pakistan’s target with grit and defended their crown. The missing trophy could not take away the achievement.
As fans celebrated online, the team’s creativity with trophy emojis turned the fiasco into a moment of defiance.
