Trophy controversy escalates after India-Pakistan final standoff
India’s emphatic victory over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 final should have marked a celebratory conclusion to a fiercely contested tournament. Instead, what followed was an unusually chaotic post-match scene that overshadowed the win. While fans waited for the customary trophy lift, confusion unfolded on the ground, with delays, visible discomfort, and eventually — no trophy presentation at all.
What began as a tense moment on the podium has now evolved into an international row. According to ANI, a Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) official recently visited the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) headquarters in Dubai to inquire about the missing trophy, only to be informed that it was no longer there.
“A BCCI official visited ACC headquarters a few days back. When he inquired about the trophy in the ACC office, the staff told him that it has been removed from here and is in the custody of Moshin Naqvi in some place in Abu Dhabi.” — Sources told ANI
This follows a sequence of events that began after India refused to accept the trophy from ACC President and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi during the post-match ceremony. The presentation was delayed by more than an hour, and the trophy was eventually taken off the field without explanation. Naqvi had later stated that the Indian team could collect the trophy from him directly, even proposing a new ceremony for its handover.
Viral video of Sindh governor adds fuel to the fire
As the situation continued to evolve, a viral Instagram video showing Kamran Tessori, the Governor of Sindh, praising Naqvi’s handling of the situation, intensified the backlash. Tessori can be heard lauding Naqvi’s decision to leave the field with the trophy and mocking India’s response.
“Jab ye ground mein khade the aur Indian team trophy nahi le rahi thi, inhone sabr ka muzahira kiya. Khade rahe, khade rahe. Wo chahte the ye agar hat jayenge to hum kisi aur se le lenge. Lekin unko nahi pata tha ke hamara chairman wajir-e-dakhla bhi hai. Unhone team ko baad mein dehshat gardon ki tarah handle kiya, trophy gaadi mein rakh ke saath le aaye. Ab poora India trophy ke peeche bhag raha hai. (When he was standing on the ground and the Indian team was not taking the trophy, he demonstrated patience. He kept standing, kept standing. They (the Indian team) wanted that if he moved aside, they would take it from someone else. But they did not know that our chairman is also the Interior Minister. He then handled the team like terrorists, kept the trophy in the car, and took it away with him. Now, the whole of India is chasing the trophy.) ”
— Kamran Tessori, Governor of Sindh, can be heard saying in the video
The remarks have drawn sharp criticism from fans across the subcontinent.
The stand-off continues
Despite India’s triumph in the final, the post-tournament narrative has remained fixated on the trophy impasse. While the BCCI has reportedly sent official communication requesting the return of the Asia Cup silverware, Naqvi has remained unyielding, reportedly suggesting that Indian players collect it in person at a future event.
No formal resolution has been announced by either the ACC or PCB. With the trophy now reportedly in Abu Dhabi, and social media narratives continuing to escalate, the Asia Cup 2025 ends not just with cricketing headlines — but with an unprecedented diplomatic drama off the field.
