Dubai, September 28 – The Asia Cup 2025 Final between India and Pakistan was meant to be a celebration of cricketing excellence. Instead, it turned into a night of glory without silverware for Team India, who were denied their moment on the podium.
Despite beating Pakistan by 5 wickets and lifting their ninth Asia Cup title, the Indian team celebrated without the trophy or medals—taken away by Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Chairman and Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, in what sources called a vindictive and politically motivated gesture.
Cricketing Brilliance Overshadowed
The match itself was a masterclass in India’s dominance. Suryakumar Yadav led with poise, while youngsters like Tilak Varma rose under pressure. But the final belonged to Rinku Singh, who manifested his own vision of hitting the winning run for India in the Asia Cup final.
True to his words, Rinku Singh, facing just one ball, smashed a boundary off the cocky Haris Rauf—delivering India the win in a fairytale finish. It was poetic justice: the very bowler who strutted around through the tournament ended up handing India their ninth Asia Cup title.
India had already beaten Pakistan twice before in the tournament, and this third blow was the loudest. That final ball was less a delivery and more a resounding slap on Rauf’s face—oh, how he must be licking his wounds as the stadium erupted in joy.
But even as the celebrations shook Dubai, the moment was quickly overshadowed by the chaos that followed at the presentation ceremony.
A Broken Presentation
In the days leading up to the final, Mohsin Naqvi had already stoked controversy with his shameless social media remarks attacking India and mocking their dominance in the tournament. Despite BCCI’s strong objections, Naqvi insisted that he alone would present the trophy and medals, rejecting suggestions to allow a neutral dignitary to do the honors.
For India, this was the final straw, Indian players boycotted the presentation ceremony, refusing to accept the trophy and medals from Naqvi, citing his anti-India political stance and escalating tensions between the two nations.
Naqvi’s dual role as ACC President and Pakistan’s Interior Minister was the flashpoint. His earlier remarks, coupled with PCB’s interference attempts during the tournament—including a bid to remove Match Referee Andy Pycroft—only deepened mistrust.
In an act described by officials as vindictive and downright childish, Naqvi reportedly took the trophy and medals back to his hotel rather than allow anyone else to present them. No official handover. No celebratory lifting of the cup. No medals draped on the champions.
Instead, the Indian team posed for their group photo—without silverware, but with pride and dignity intact.
Fallout and Reaction
“This is the real Pakistan and its leadership—vindictive, bitter, and incapable of accepting defeat with grace,”
– a senior BCCI official, speaking anonymously.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s night went from bad to worse. Fans booed their players for on-field antics, while their captain allegedly discarded his cheque in frustration. To add to the humiliation, Wasim Akram lashed out at his own team:
“Instead of improving their game, they resort to petty acts. When will they learn?”
India’s Answer
Back home, the BCCI responded swiftly:
“3 blows. 0 response. Asia Cup Champions. Message delivered.”
Along with this statement, a ₹21 crore prize was announced for players and support staff—recognition not just of cricketing brilliance, but of composure in the face of politics.
A Childish Display of Frustration
If Naqvi’s antics weren’t embarrassing enough, Salman Ali Agha added to Pakistan’s woes. After being handed the runners-up cheque by Mohsin Naqvi, the frustrated batter flung it away in disgust, drawing loud boos from the Dubai crowd.
The scene summed up Pakistan’s night: disgruntled, graceless, and utterly tone-deaf. Between a minister who treated the trophy like stolen candy and a player who tossed away his own reward, it was clear that Pakistan’s camp was more interested in snatching what wasn’t theirs than in showing dignity in defeat.
Much like a child refusing to return a candy he grabbed from another kid, Mohsin Naqvi’s vindictive refusal to hand over the Asia Cup became the symbol of Pakistan’s pettiness. India, meanwhile, didn’t need the silverware in hand—their cricket, their composure, and their class spoke louder than any trophy ever could.
🔥 The Best Team Won. India Won. Class Beat Pettiness.
They may not have held the trophy in their hands, but they held their heads higher than ever. No amount of stealing, conniving, or backbiting can take away the truth that India won the Asia Cup 2025 fair and square — with grit, determination, and the sheer manifestation of its players.
While Mohsin Naqvi may have literally stolen the trophy, he cannot steal the glory. This triumph stands as a resounding slap on his face for his derogatory comments against India, proving that victory belongs to those who earn it — not those who try to take it away.
