India Rejects Asia Cup Trophy from Pakistan Minister Naqvi

India’s recent victory in the Asia Cup culminated in a controversial moment when the team declined to accept the championship trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, the president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board. The match, held on September 17, 2023, saw India defeat Pakistan by five wickets, but the post-match presentation was marred by a significant delay and speculation regarding India’s protest.

The final match concluded around 22:30 local time, but the trophy presentation was postponed for over an hour. When the ceremony eventually commenced, Indian players accepted their individual awards from other officials while deliberately avoiding 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. This is unfortunate, but we hope the trophy and medals will be handed over to us soon.”

Saikia also indicated that the BCCI plans to lodge a “serious and strong protest” during the International Cricket Council (ICC) conference scheduled for November 2023 in Dubai. This sentiment was corroborated by broadcaster Simon Doull, who confirmed India’s refusal to accept the trophy live on air.

While Pakistan’s captain, Salman Agha, accepted the runners-up cheque, the championship trophy was quietly removed from the stage without any explanation. India’s captain, Suryakumar Yadav, described the situation 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.”

In a display of resilience, Indian players celebrated on the podium, lifting an “imaginary trophy” to commemorate their victory as Naqvi and other dignitaries exited the stage. Tensions throughout the tournament had been palpable, with India refraining from shaking hands with Pakistani players and both teams facing fines for on-field conduct.

The Asia Cup triumph adds to India’s illustrious cricket history, yet the refusal to accept the trophy highlights the ongoing political tensions between the two nations, which have clearly spilled over into the sporting arena. This incident not only reflects the competitive spirit of cricket but also underscores the broader context of the relationship between India and Pakistan, a rivalry marked by both sporting excellence and political strain.