India's Asia Cup win marred by trophy presentation snub

Simmering political tensions between India and Pakistan have intensified on the cricket field with the India team refusing to accept the Asia Cup trophy from a senior Pakistani official, having already declined handshakes with their archrival for three consecutive matches.

Tilak Varma’s nerveless half-century helped India beat arch rivals Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday and claim its ninth Asia Cup - second in the T20 format.

But it at the post-match presentation ceremony where tensions reached boiling point.

The ceremony was first delayed for unclear reasons for over one-and-a-half hours. The Pakistan team, led by captain Salman Agha, then arrived late for the ceremony. However, there was a further delay as the Indian team refused to accept the trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the chief of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Interior Minister of Pakistan.

India’s Twenty20 skipper Suryakumar Yadav claimed that his team was denied the chance to lift the 2025 Asia Cup trophy.

Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav (R) playfully pretends to hold the trophy as his team celebrates their victory in Dubai. AFP

"This is one thing which I have never seen since I started playing cricket, started following cricket - a champion team is denied a trophy, that too a hard earned one,” said Yadav in the post-match media conference. "I feel we deserved it. And I can’t say anything more.”

"If you tell me about trophies, mine are sitting in the dressing room, all 14 guys with me, the support staff - those are the real trophies throughout this journey in the Asia Cup.”

An official removes the winners' trophy from the presentation area after India won the Asia Cup final in Dubai. AP

A statement on the ACC website had stated on Saturday that Naqvi would hand over the trophy to the Asia Cup winners. However, it is understood that the Indian team did not want to receive the trophy from him - in line with their refusal to shake hands with the Pakistan team in any of the three matches the two sides played during the tournament, both at the coin toss and at the end of the match.

While the Indian team had refused to accept the trophy from Naqvi, he reportedly refused to step down from the presentation ceremony altogether. Before the ceremony began, an official also removed the Asia Cup trophy from the presentation podium. No explanation was provided from the ACC for this action.

"Ladies and gentlemen, 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,” Simon Doull, former New Zealand cricketer and broadcaster, announced.

Tilak Varma receives an award for super sixes at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. AP

This was after Tilak Varma and Abhishek Sharma had collected their individual awards - player of the match and tournament, respectively. India wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav also collected an award for his bowling performances through the tournament.

All three received their awards from sponsor representatives, and did not acknowledge or shake hands with Naqvi on the presentation stage.

The Pakistan team received its runners-up medals from Aminul Islam, the Bangladesh Cricket Board president, and the check from Naqvi.

Eventually, the Indian team celebrated without the trophy or its individual winners’ medals.

Pakistan's captain Salman Agha receives the runner up cheque from Mohsin Naqvi during the presentation ceremony. AFP

"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,” BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told Indian news media outlet, ANI. "But that does not mean that the gentleman will take away the trophy with him, along with the medals. So it is very unfortunate and we hope that the trophy and the medals will be returned to India as soon as possible.

"There is an ICC conference in November in Dubai. In the next conference, we are going to launch a very serious and very strong protest against the act of the ACC chairperson.”

The Asia Cup marked a resumption of cricket ties between India and Pakistan only months after the neighboring countries were engaged in a tense border situation in May that disrupted the IPL and the Pakistan Super League.

India’s cricketers refused to shake hands with Pakistan after their first and second games at the Asia Cup. Pakistan even threatened to quit the tournament over the "handshake controversy”, which ultimately came to naught.

Suryakumar was reprimanded for his statements after the first game, while Haris Rauf was penalized for his on-field antics during the second game.

There were no handshakes after Sunday’s final either, or earlier at the toss. Skipper Yadav spoke with former India cricketer-turned-broadcaster Ravi Shastri, while his counterpart Agha talked with former Pakistan cricketer-turned-broadcaster Waqar Younis.

It was quite evident that India was not going to accept the trophy from Naqvi when Agha stood alone beside the winner’s cup after Suryakumar refused to attend the trophy photo shoot before the final.

The Pakistan skipper believed the Indian team not only disrespected Pakistan players by not shaking hands, but they disrespected cricket.

"Good teams don’t do what they did today (by refusing to accept the trophy from Naqvi),” Agha said. "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.”

Agha claimed the Suryakumar shook hands with him privately before the tournament started three weeks ago when they met each other during the pre-tournament press conferences and 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.”
Agha said what the Indian team did during the tournament with Pakistan sent a poor message to the youth of both countries.

"If a kid is watching in India or Pakistan, we’re not sending them a good message,” he said. "People think of us as role models, but if we’re behaving like this, we’re not inspiring them. What happened shouldn’t have happened, but you should ask the people (India) responsible for this rather than me.”

Associated Press