The Asia Cup 2025 concluded on a bitterly sour note at Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, as India clinched their record-extending ninth title with a thrilling five-wicket victory over Pakistan, only to be denied the physical trophy amid a standoff with Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Mohsin Naqvi. Set a target of 147, India slumped to 20/3 early in the chase, losing Abhishek Sharma, skipper Suryakumar Yadav, and Shubman Gill in quick succession to Pakistan's pace attack led by Faheem Ashraf and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
However, Tilak Varma's masterful unbeaten 69 off 51 balls—featuring three fours and four sixes—steered the team home, supported by partnerships with Sanju Samson (24) and Shivam Dube (33*). Rinku Singh sealed the win with a boundary off Haris Rauf in the final over, capping a comeback that evoked memories of classic Indo-Pak duels.
The post-match presentation devolved into chaos, with the ceremony delayed by over 45 minutes as Indian players refused to accept the trophy from Naqvi, who doubles as Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman and Interior Minister. Tensions had simmered throughout the tournament, exacerbated by Naqvi's social media posts reposting provocative images of Pakistani cricketers in fighter jet-themed attire, interpreted by Indian officials as insensitive amid recent geopolitical strains following the Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir.
No handshakes occurred at the toss—where separate presenters Ravi Shastri and Waqar Younis interviewed the captains—or during the match, and the BCCI reportedly instructed the team to boycott the handover.
Individual awards proceeded, with Kuldeep Yadav earning Player of the Match and Tournament honours, and Abhishek Sharma named overall Player of the Tournament, but the ceremony ended abruptly without the champions posing with silverware. Naqvi departed the venue clutching the trophy, leaving the Indian squad to celebrate with an imaginary lift, drawing boos from the half-empty stands.
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri, commentating for Sony Sports, lambasted the episode as "ridiculous", emphasising its disservice to the players and fans. "The game was worthy of a final, and then you hang around for 45 minutes still not knowing what's happening. I mean, it's ridiculous," he fumed during a studio discussion alongside Wasim Akram.
Shastri's critique resonated across social media, where users like @DheetAfridian hailed his "sensible" stance against what they called "cheap tactics", while others decried the politicisation of cricket. The outburst highlighted broader concerns over off-field hostilities overshadowing on-field excellence, echoing past Indo-Pak clashes like the 1999 World Cup amid the Kargil conflict. The BCCI plans to raise the issue at an upcoming ICC meeting in Dubai, potentially seeking formal protocols for neutral presentations in future events.
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India's triumph was built on a disciplined bowling display that restricted Pakistan to 146/9, sparked by Sahibzada Farhan's aggressive 57 in an 84-run opening stand with Fakhar Zaman before a collapse triggered by Varun Chakaravarthy's breakthrough. Jasprit Bumrah's late strikes, including uprooting Haris Rauf's stump, added flair, while Home Minister Amit Shah lauded the "fierce energy" of the victors on X, drawing parallels to recent military successes against cross-border threats.
As celebrations continue without the trophy—expected to be couriered to India—the episode underscores the fragile truce in Asian cricket, where sport and statecraft increasingly collide.
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