Following their victory over Pakistan in Sunday’s final in Dubai, the Indian cricket team declined to accept the Asia Cup trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, the head of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). Naqvi, who is also the Interior Minister of Pakistan, insisted that he would be the only one to perform the honors. In a startling turn of events, India did not win a trophy at the conclusion of the evening.
Over an hour and a half after Rinku Singh scored the winning runs, the presentation ceremony got underway. Cricbuzz is aware that a standoff resulted in the delay: Naqvi refused to move from his position to give the trophy to the victorious team, and the Indian team refused to accept it from him. The trophy had already been lifted off the ground before the presentation broadcast eventually started.
The Indian team did not receive their winners’ medals or the winning trophy, but Tilak Varma, Kuldeep Yadav, and Abhishek Sharma did receive their awards from the sponsors. After receiving their runners-up medals from BCB President Aminul Islam, Pakistan immediately returned to their dressing room with head coach Mike Hesson in tow.
Soon after India scored the winning runs, the players and support staff from Pakistan’s touring group went straight into the locker room, causing confusion and disrupting their planned news conference.
The entire post-match presentation party, including Mohsin, was kept waiting on the dais for more than thirty-five minutes because they were indoors and the standoff between India and Mohsin was playing in the background. Naqvi was also observed making a few lengthy, animated phone conversations during this period.
Aminul Islam of the BCB and Khalid Al Zarooni, the vice-chairman of the Emirates Cricket Board, reportedly volunteered to give the trophy to India. India was prepared to accept the deal. Naqvi, however, insisted on giving the trophy himself and was not on board. Ultimately, India received no prize at all.
The mostly Indian crowd, which was eager to see their side hoist the trophy, booed loudly when the Pakistani team finally emerged from the dressing room after spending an hour indoors, possibly waiting out the tough standoff. On the pitch, players from both teams were kept to wait while the presents were further postponed.
Suryakumar Yadav, the captain of India, remained silent during the presentation. “The Asian Cricket Council has notified me that tonight’s award ceremony for the Indian cricket team will not take place. After speaking with Pakistani captain Salman Ali Agha, Player of the Match Tilak Varma, and Player of the Tournament Abhishek Sharma, host Simon Doull said on the broadcast that the post-match presentation was over.
The “champions” signs were temporarily displayed for India’s photo op after the ceremony was over and Naqvi had departed, but they were quickly taken down once more. The players made do by sitting on the dais, posing for the cameras, and then scaling it. Grinning, Suryakumar pretended to lift a fictitious trophy while his teammates applauded in the backdrop, confetti and fireworks exploding. India had dominated the event, and it ended in a bizarre way.
Suryakumar stated during the press conference following the game that India deserved to win the trophy following an outstanding campaign.
“This is one thing which I have never seen since I have started playing cricket, since I have started following cricket that a champion team is denied to get a trophy,” Suryakumar said. “That too a hard-earned one, it’s not like we got it easily. It was a hard-earned tournament. We were here since the 4th [September], played two back-to-back good games. I feel we deserved it. I can’t say anything more, I think I have summed it up really well, I can’t say anything more about it.
“If you tell me about the trophies, my trophies are sitting in the dressing room, all the 14 guys, all the support staff. Those are the real trophies who I have been a big fan of throughout this journey of Asia Cup. Those are the real trophies, the real moments which I am taking back as lovely memories and which will stay forever,” added Yadav.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India also announced a reward of INR 21 Crore for the players and support staff shortly after India’s five-wicket triumph.
In contrast to the custom of the losing team speaking first, Pakistan’s captain, Salman Ali Agha, spoke at the news conference after India. More than two hours after the game concluded, when the team bus had already departed with the remaining players and coaching staff, he made his media appearance. Later, Agha was spotted driving off in a private vehicle with the team’s media manager.
“If the ACC has a president, then it’s his job to give the trophy. If you don’t want to take it from him, then how else will you get it?” Agha asked rhetorically at the press conference.
India’s efforts throughout the competition raised little doubt about the worthiness of their victory, even though the lack of a trophy ceremony made for an odd conclusion.
