India Declines Asia Cup Trophy from Pakistan’s Mohsin Naqvi

India’s recent victory in the Asia Cup culminated in a significant controversy when the team declined to accept the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, who is both the president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and Pakistan’s interior minister. The match, held on September 17, 2023, saw India defeat Pakistan by five wickets, but post-match proceedings were marred by delays and political tensions.

The final, which concluded around 22:30 local time, was followed by an hour-long delay before the post-match presentation began. During this time, speculation arose regarding India’s refusal to accept the trophy from Naqvi. When the ceremony eventually commenced, Indian players received their individual awards from other dignitaries, deliberately avoiding any interaction with Naqvi.

Devajit Saikia, secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), stated, “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.” He described the situation as “unfortunate” but expressed hope that the trophy and medals would be handed over to the team soon. Saikia also indicated that the BCCI plans to lodge a “serious and strong protest” at the upcoming ICC conference in Dubai this November.

During the broadcast, presenter Simon Doull confirmed that India had indeed declined to collect the trophy. Although Salman Agha, the captain of the Pakistan team, received the runners-up cheque, the championship trophy was quietly removed from the stage without any explanation.

Reflecting on the incident, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav described the situation as “unprecedented.” He remarked, “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.”

The Indian players later celebrated their victory by holding up an “imaginary trophy” on the podium, while Naqvi and other officials exited the stage. Tensions had been evident throughout the tournament, with India opting not to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts and experiencing heated exchanges in earlier matches. Both teams had players fined for inappropriate on-field conduct, highlighting the strained relations between the nations.

India’s triumph in the Asia Cup marks another significant achievement in their cricketing history. Yet, the refusal to accept the trophy serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing political tensions that continue to impact relations between India and Pakistan. As the cricketing world watches closely, the implications of this incident may resonate beyond the cricket field, reflecting deeper national sentiments.