India annihilated Pakistan by five wickets in a nerve-wracking final to retain the Asia Cup at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, with Tilak Varma playing a key role with his unbeaten 69. It was the third meeting between the bitter rivals at the tournament, and India's victory earned them a ninth title. Meanwhile, after India's victory, what should have been a moment of celebration turned into a tense standoff when the Indian team refused to accept the trophy during the post-match presentation ceremony, which was delayed by more than an hour. Indian players refused to accept the winner's trophy from Asian Cricket Council president Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the players refused to accept the winner's trophy from Asian Cricket Council president Mohsin Naqvi.
"We have decided not to take the Asia Cup trophy from the ACC chairman, who happens to be one of the main leaders of Pakistan," BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told ANI.
As the presentation eventually commenced, Kuldeep Yadav, Abhishek Sharma, and Tilak Varma were presented with their respective awards by other dignitaries on stage, carefully avoiding any direct interaction with Naqvi. Pakistan's captain, Salman Agha, accepted the runners-up cheque from Naqvi, following which the ceremony was promptly concluded. Simon Doull, the presenter for the host broadcaster towards the end of the ceremony, confirmed that India will not be receiving the trophy.
"I have been informed by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) that the Indian cricket team will not be collecting their awards tonight. So that does conclude the post-match presentation."
During the press conference, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav, speaking on the entire saga, said he had not seen anything like it.
"I think this is one thing which I have never seen since I started playing cricket, started following cricket, that a champion team is denied a trophy, that too a hard earned one. I feel we deserved it. I can't say anything more, I've summed it up really well. If you tell me about trophies, my trophies are sitting in the dressing room, all the 14 guys with me, the support staff, those are the real trophies throughout this journey in the Asia Cup."