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India defeated Pakistan and clinched the Asia Cup 2025 for a record-extending ninth time. The game was hosted in Dubai International Stadium. And yet, the drama was not over yet. A controversy-ridden tournament between India and Pakistan bid farewell with a final spout of frenzy as the Indian team, the champion Indian team, could not rejoice with the trophy in front of them even though they were the most dominant unit throughout the tournament.
India refused to accept the trophy from PCB and ACB chief Mohsin Naqvi, while others put the blame on the Pakistan team. All was going according to plan. The Indian players were happy and addressed the commentators after the game, with Rinku, Shubman Gill, Kuldeep Yadav, and even bowling coach Morne Morkel conveying their feelings. So, when the segment closed and the broadcast switched to Sony Studio, where host Sanjana Ganesan was talking about match reviews with Wasim Akram and Ravi Shastri, it was only a matter of time before the presentation ceremony began and the trophy was presented to the winning captain, Suryakumar Yadav, wasn't it? Wasn't it?
No. In a very distasteful gesture, the Indian team wrapped up the night and headed back to their hotel handless and trophy-less. The ceremony of presentation was finally underway after a one-hour delay, and while the presenter Simon Doull very clearly stated, 'The ACC has informed us that India will not be collecting their trophy tonight,' inner details reveal a new low to which Pakistan and its cricketing officials have sunk. After the presentation ceremony, ACC and Pakistan Cricket Board head Naqvi took the trophy away from the stadium with the Indian winning team sitting on the dais without the trophy.
The entire uproar began as soon as the match was over. Naqvi and the Indian side were already on stage awaiting. But Pakistan was nowhere to be seen, remaining inside their dressing room. Naqvi, holding his phone, seemed to be engaged in a spirited conversation as the holdup continued. When Salman Ali Agha emerged at last, with Mike Hesson and the team manager, the crowd erupted in raucous boos. Shortly after, additional Pakistan players emerged, some strolling in slippers, eliciting even louder jeers.
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Naqvi was deluged by boos and some 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' chants. News followed that the Indian team did not want to pick up the trophy from Naqvi. After weeks of being on a layoff, finally, it was Khalid Al Zarooni, the Emirates Cricket Board vice-chairman, who would be doing the honors. But unexpectedly, plans were changed at the last minute. The Pakistan team picked up their medals first as Naqvi was edged out of the stage.
With this, the Asia Cup 2025 is added to a notorious list of tournaments wherein there was never any dearth of acrimony between India and Pakistan. Consider the 1999 World Cup, which fell during the Kargil War, or the subsequent edition in 2003, when tensions ran high and reached their crescendo between the two sides. But neither matches the animosity between India and Pakistan in the past three weeks. From the no-handshake ordeal to Pakistan players taunting India with inexplicable movements, the Asia Cup 2025 has witnessed it all.
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