In one of the most bizarre sights on a sporting field, India celebrated their Asia Cup triumph on the dais without the traditional symbols of victory. None of the players wore their medals around their necks, and captain Suryakumar Yadav did not hold the trophy in his hands. Wondering why?
India had refused to collect the Asia Cup from Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as the president of the Asian Cricket Council. It was widely speculated that India would take this stand amid tensions between the two countries, particularly given Naqvi's dual role as a government minister in Pakistan and his provocative social media post during the tournament.
Incidentally, the Asia Cup marked the first meeting between India and Pakistan on a cricket field since the Pahalgam terror attack in April and the cross-border hostilities that followed in May.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav confirmed that the team had decided not to receive the trophy from Naqvi, adding that nobody had forced them to take this stand. He later explained that the trophy was not awarded to them as a result of their decision.
"We as a team decided not to take the trophy (from Mohsin Naqvi). Nobody told us to do so. But I feel a team that that wins the tournament deserves the trophy," captain Suryakumar said during his interaction with the press after the final.
India informed the officials that they were willing to receive the trophy from Emirates Cricket Board vice-chairman Khalid Al Zarooni, who was sharing the stage with Naqvi. However, Naqvi did not permit this to happen.
INDIA WERE DENIED THE TROPHY: SURYAKUMAR
Suryakumar shed more light on the incident, expressing his astonishment that a winning team had been denied the trophy.
"This is one thing that I have never seen since I started playing and following cricket, that a champion team is denied a trophy, that too is a hard-earned one. It's not like it was easy. We played two back-to-back good games in two days, I felt that we deserved it. I can't say anything more," Suryakumar said while addressing the press after the five-wicket win.
"If you tell me about the trophies, I have 14 of them in my dressing room. All the guys and the support staff, they are the real trophies. I have been a big fan of them throughout the journey of the Asia Cup. I think those are thge real trophies and the real moment those I am taking back, which will be staying with me forever,"
While Pakistan players were handed their runners-up medal and Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma collected the Player of the Series and Player of the Tournament awards, repsectively, captain Suryakumar Yadav did not collect the trophy on Sunday.
At one point, the Indian team threatened to lodge a protest if Mohsin Naqvi insisted on presenting it to them. An official of the Asian Cricket Council was seen taking the trophy away from the field of play before the presentation ceremony.
The drama during the presentation ceremony overshadowed India's clinical win over Pakistan, their third win over Salman Ali Agha's win. After the spin trio of Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarty triggered a collapse that saw Pakistan go from 113 for 1 to 146-all out, India overcame an early wobble to chase the target in 19.4 overs. Tilak Varma emerged India's hero with the bat, hitting an unbeaten 69.
INDIA DISRESPECTING CRICKET, SAYS PAK CAPTAIN
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha criticised India over their handshake snub and their decision not to receive the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi. Suryakumar Yadav had refused to shake hands with Salman during the group-stage game on 14 September, which triggered the series of controversies that followed.
"What India did with us (not shaking hands, not taking the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi) – they are not only disrespecting us, they are also disrespecting the sport of cricket," Salman said after the final.
"Looking at this, what if other teams also start doing the same? Where will we draw the line, where will this stop? Cricketers are supposed to be role models; what will kids learn watching this kind of behaviour on the field? Whatever happened in this tournament was very bad," he added.