By Admin 
On a night when India and Pakistan finally engaged in a close cricketing contest befitting an Asia Cup final, the spotlight was snatched away from the on-field proceedings because of the farce that unfolded long after Rinku Singh hit the winning runs with two balls remaining.
In a tournament replete with unedifying drama, sparked by India’s refusal to shake hands with Pakistan’s players after their first meeting on September 14 in line with the government’s advice, the nadir was reached on Sunday (September 28, 2025) night as the Indian team was denied the trophy after winning the Asia Cup for a record-extending ninth time.
Once India said it will not accept the glittering prize from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who is also chief of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the country’s interior minister, the 46-year-old politician and administrator decided to deny Suryakumar Yadav and Co. the joy of lifting the title altogether. While the game ended at 10.30 p.m. local time, the presentation didn’t start until roughly 75 minutes later. When the presentation finally did commence, Pakistan’s cricketers and support staff accepted the runner-up medals while individual player awards were handed out. But right after Abhishek Sharma was adjudged the Player-of-the-Tournament, the post-match ceremony came to an abrupt end as the ACC officials walked off the stage. The actual trophy had left the outfield long before. Suryakumar and his teammates celebrated by appearing to lift an imaginary trophy while posing for photos.
Fans celebrate after India won the Asia Cup cricket final against Pakistan at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, United Arab Emirates, on September 28, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
AP
“This is one thing I have never seen since I started playing and following cricket that a champion team is denied a trophy,” Suryakumar said in the wee hours of Monday (September 29, 2025) morning. “It was a hard-earned trophy. We deserved it. I can’t say anything more. If you tell me about the trophies, my trophies are sitting in my dressing room — all the 14 players with me and all the support staff. I am taking back lovely memories and moments with these guys. That’s all.”
When Pakistan skipper Salman Agha was asked for his take on the farcical end, he pointed the blame towards India and said that all the drama had been triggered by the opponent’s no-handshake stance. “What India has done in this tournament is very disappointing,” Agha said at the press conference after the final. “They’re not disrespecting us by not shaking hands, they’re disrespecting cricket. Good teams don’t do what they did today (refusing to accept the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi). We went to pose with the trophy on our own because we wanted to fulfil our obligations. We stood there and took our medals. I don’t want to use harsh words but they’ve been very disrespectful.”
An official removes the winners’ trophy from the presentation area after India won the Asia Cup cricket final against Pakistan at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, on September 28, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
AP
Agha went on to suggest that if it was up to Suryakumar and the Indian players, handshakes would have taken place as is customary with the conventions of the game. “Suryakumar shook hands with me in private at the start of the tournament,” Agha said. “Both at the pre-tournament press conference and when we met in the referee’s meeting. But when they’re out in the world in front of the cameras, they don’t shake our hands. I’m sure he’s following the instructions he’s been given, but if it was up to him, he’d shake hands with me.”
While Agha lamented India’s behaviour, it must be said that Pakistan’s own conduct by delaying a game against the United Arab Emirates over a pullout threat was not above board.
That there have been political undertones to everything that has transpired between India and Pakistan in this tournament was evident at the end. While Suryakumar donated his entire match fees from the event to the Indian armed forces, Agha concluded his presser by saying that the match fees of all the Pakistan players will be given to the civilians who died in airstrikes conducted by India on the back of the Pahalgam terror attack.