DUBAI, Sept 29 — India captain Suryakumar Yadav said his team was denied the chance to lift the Asia Cup 2025 trophy after it was removed from the presentation ceremony. The decision came when Indian players refused to accept the trophy from Pakistan’s interior minister Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President.
India defeated Pakistan by five wickets in the final at Dubai International Stadium, but the post-match celebrations took an unusual turn. With no official trophy presentation, Indian players lifted an imaginary trophy to celebrate their win.
“This is something I’ve never seen in cricket. A champion team was denied its hard-earned trophy. But for me, my real trophies are my teammates and support staff who stood together throughout the Asia Cup,” Suryakumar told reporters.
The ceremony was delayed for over an hour before being cut short. Reports said organisers walked away with the trophy after the BCCI confirmed players refused to accept it from Naqvi.
Pakistan captain Salman Agha criticized India’s behavior, saying it disrespected the spirit of cricket. “By refusing to shake hands and rejecting the trophy, India disrespected cricket. Good teams don’t act this way,” he said.
Despite the controversy, Suryakumar insisted India’s victory mattered more than the trophy itself. “All that counts is that India are champions again,” he said.
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