India captain Suryakumar Yadav revealed shocking details about the Asia Cup 2025 final trophy incident involving Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi. The Indian cricket team had decisively refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy from Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s Interior Minister and Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, following their hard-fought five-wicket victory against Pakistan. The refusal led to unprecedented chaos during the trophy presentation ceremony and culminated in Naqvi absconding with the trophy, leaving the Indian team without their rightful award.
Suryakumar Yadav details post-match trophy drama
India’s thrilling victory over Pakistan was soon eclipsed by the bizarre events during the post-match presentation. Suryakumar described how the Indian team stood firm in their decision and did not delay the ceremony by avoiding the stage or the presentation. In his words he told Indian Express, “We didn’t close the door and sit inside the dressing room. We didn’t make anyone wait for the presentation ceremony. Trophy leke bhaag gaye woh (They ran away with the trophy). That’s what I saw”. This statement encapsulated the unusual scene where the ACC chief walked away with the trophy, depriving the champions of the physical symbol of their hard-earned triumph.
A video circulated on social media showing an official taking the trophy back after Naqvi abruptly left the ceremony. Despite repeated efforts from the Indian team and officials, Naqvi refused to hand over the trophy. The Indian players instead celebrated holding an imaginary trophy, highlighting the deep tensions surrounding the incident.
Big statement from suryakumar Yadav🗣️- "We never said we wouldn’t take the trophy. We waited for one and a half hours with phones in hand, ready for photos. Shivam, Kuldeep, Abhishek went for awards, but they took the medals and trophy elsewhere, thinking they had won."
— 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12)
Look how they are running away with the Asia Cup trophy on Mohsin Naqvi’s instructions.🤡😭
Trophy chor 🤡
— 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12)
Also READ: Suryakumar Yadav floors Pakistani journalist with witty reply after India’s Asia Cup 2025 title win
Team’s stand and wider reactions
Contrary to some claims in Pakistani cricket circles suggesting instructions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Suryakumar clarified that the decision to refuse the trophy from Naqvi was entirely made by the team on the ground, without any directive from the BCCI or the Indian government. This stance was reportedly due to Naqvi’s political position and past provocative gestures, including social media posts that created a hostile atmosphere between the two teams during the tournament.
The BCCI secretary publicly condemned Naqvi’s actions as unethical, stating that the ACC chief’s act of taking the trophy and winner’s medals was unacceptable since they legally and morally belonged to India. The prolonged trophy ceremony delay—lasting over an hour—turned into a diplomatic standoff, overshadowing India’s record-extending ninth Asia Cup title win and turning the cricketing celebration into a political controversy.
Suryakumar Yadav expressed his disbelief at the incident, saying, “I have never seen a champion team denied a trophy, especially a hard-earned one. It’s not like it happened easily”. The episode has sparked widespread discussion on the intersection of sport and politics, with many questioning the spirit of the game being overshadowed by off-field tensions as India marked their Asia Cup success.
