The Asia Cup 2025 finale was meant to be a moment of triumph for India. Instead, it turned into an international spectacle when India refused to accept the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, the ACC president and Pakistan’s interior minister. What should have been joyous celebration amidst the squad morphed into a theatrical silence on stage and political tension in the stadium. India’s decision was rooted in deeper anger: Naqvi had made controversial social media posts, including one referencing a “crashing plane” gesture by Cristiano Ronaldo, and reposting images of Pakistani cricketers in fighter jet settings. The Indian team had already avoided interactions with Pakistani players over all encounters in the tournament.

The ACC official waited on the podium for nearly 20 minutes, only to find no takers for the trophy. The Indian side proposed a workaround: let the Emirates Cricket Board vice-chair present the award instead of Naqvi. When that was declined, Naqvi abruptly removed the trophy and medals from the stage and exited. 

On the field, Indian players lingered for over 90 minutes, uncertain how to celebrate empty-handed. Eventually they gathered on the pitch, snapped photographs with imaginary trophies, and embraced one another. Captain Suryakumar Yadav replicated a famous victory walk minus the trophy while saying that the true glory lay within the team and its journey.

The Pakistan side responded sharply, with Captain Salman Ali Agha questioning India’s respect for cricket and asserting that as ACC head, Naqvi alone had the authority to present the trophy. The BCCI filed protests, demanding immediate return of the trophy and labelling Naqvi’s act unsportsmanlike. What unfolded at Dubai wasn’t just sport: it was a microcosm of India Pakistan diplomacy, an intersection of pride, identity, and politics on a global stage. And cricket often a bridge between rivals briefly became the battleground.