- BCCI reportedly directs players to reject trophy handover.
- Naqvi stands firm, refuses to bow to Indian team demands.
- Post-match ceremony ends without trophy handover to India.
Igniting a new controversy, the Indian cricket team refused to receive the Asia Cup trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who is also heading the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB).
The move reportedly came on the directives of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) after India became the Asia Cup champions by defeating Pakistan in the tournament final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Despite pressure, Naqvi remained firm on his decision to present the trophy himself, refusing to bow to India’s demands.
The development has sparked attention during the high-profile final in Dubai, highlighting tensions off the field.
The post-match ceremony was concluded without a trophy handover to the Men in Blue.
Despite losing the Asia Cup final, Pakistan players exhibited sportsmanship by attending the post-match ceremony and collecting medals as the tournament’s runners-up.
According to insiders, the stance was a continuation of India’s rigid approach throughout the tournament, where they insisted on conditions separate from neutral arrangements.
“The trophy will not be handed over to India,” sources privy to this development told Geo News, after Men in Blue’s recent stunt.
The organisers took the Asia Cup trophy with them despite the Indian team staying in the ground, expecting to get the title trophy after the post-match ceremony.
For the unversed, the closing ceremony of the eight-team started after an hour-long delay, with India’s Kuldeep Yadav, Shivam Dube and Tilak Varma receiving individual awards for their respective performances in the summit clash, while Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha collected the prize money cheque for finishing as the runners-up.
Later, Kuldeep was invited again to collect the best bowler of the tournament award, followed by left-handed opener Abhishek Sharma, who was adjudged the Player of the Tournament.
The closing ceremony concluded without the winning team receiving the trophy, as presenter Simon Doull confirmed its conclusion.
“I have been informed by the ACC that the Indian cricket team will not be collecting their awards tonight. So that does conclude the post-match presentation,” informed Doull.
Prior to this move, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav once again refused a customary handshake with Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha at the toss today, marking the third such snub.
The handshake snub comes in the backdrop of an ongoing row between the arch-rivals, stemming from the group-stage clash to the final, which attracted considerable attention both on and off the field.
