India Declines Asia Cup Trophy from Pakistan Minister Naqvi

India’s victory in the Asia Cup final against Pakistan on September 17, 2023, turned controversial when the Indian team declined to accept the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, the president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), who also holds positions as the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board and Pakistan’s interior minister. The match ended with India triumphing by five wickets at approximately 22:30 local time, but the post-match presentation was significantly delayed amid speculation surrounding India’s protest.

When the ceremony eventually commenced, Indian players received their individual awards from other dignitaries, deliberately avoiding any interaction with Naqvi. The secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Devajit Saikia, explained the team’s decision, stating, “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. This is unfortunate, but we hope the trophy and medals will be handed over to us soon.” Saikia also mentioned that the BCCI would lodge a “serious and strong protest” at the upcoming ICC conference in Dubai this November.

During a broadcast of the event, presenter Simon Doull confirmed that India had indeed declined to collect the trophy. Although Pakistan’s captain, Salman Agha, accepted a cheque for the runners-up, the championship trophy was removed from the stage without any explanation.

India’s captain, Suryakumar Yadav, described the incident as “unprecedented,” remarking, “A champion team being denied a trophy, I’ve never seen this before. For me, the real trophies are the teammates and staff who stood with me throughout this tournament.” Following the ceremony, Indian players celebrated by holding up an “imaginary trophy” to commemorate their victory as Naqvi and other dignitaries exited the stage.

Tensions had been evident throughout the tournament, with India refusing to shake hands with Pakistan’s players and earlier matches marked by heated exchanges. Matches between the two nations have previously seen players fined for unsportsmanlike conduct. While India’s Asia Cup win adds to its cricketing achievements, the refusal to accept the trophy highlights the ongoing political tensions between the two countries, which have spilled onto the cricket field.

The Asia Cup, a prestigious tournament in Asian cricket, continues to reflect the deep-rooted complexities in the relationship between India and Pakistan, where sports often intertwine with national sentiments.