India’s five-wicket win over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 final should have been a night of pride. Instead, celebrations were marred by controversy. What should have been about cricket turned into a bitter political storm.
The drama began with trophy chaos in Dubai. It ended with Pakistan’s Mohsin Naqvi dragging war into the picture in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s congratulatory message.
Asia Cup Trophy Ceremony Turns Ugly
#SonySportsNetwork #DPWorldAsiaCup2025 #INDvPAK pic.twitter.com/D6xOiApFEv
— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) September 28, 2025
After India’s clinical win, players were ready for their moment of glory. But when the time came to lift the trophy, the stage turned tense.
ACC President and Pakistan minister Mohsin Naqvi refused to follow protocol. India had already made it clear they would not accept the trophy from him. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) reportedly wanted Emirates Cricket Board vice-chairman Khalid Al Zarooni to present the award. But Naqvi blocked the move.
What followed was nearly an hour of confusion. Fans in the stands grew restless. Eventually, the trophy was taken away quietly. No Indian player lifted it on stage. The winners’ medals also remained missing.
Fans Show Their Anger
Negative cheers to #pakistancricketteam #BOO
Disrespect shown by Pakistan caption salman agha throwing runner up cheque in front of all on stage @GovtofPakistan @TheRealPCB #INDvPAK pic.twitter.com/wsnRawFFFd— Abhay Jamdade (@iamarj555) September 28, 2025
The Dubai crowd made its feelings clear. Chants of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” echoed through the stadium. Pakistan’s captain, Salman Ali Agha, was booed as he came near the presentation area. He was also seen throwing the runner-up award,
Meanwhile, the Pakistani team stayed in their dressing room for a long time. Naqvi stood awkwardly on stage, visibly uncomfortable. Even during the award presentations for the best performers, to the Indian players, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, and Abhishek Sharma, Mohsin Naqvi was seen standing still and not clapping.
Mohsin Naqvi Escalates With PM Modi Reply
#OperationSindoor on the games field.
Outcome is the same – India wins!
Congrats to our cricketers.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 28, 2025
The matter could have ended there. But Mohsin Naqvi decided otherwise. Hours later, he responded on X (formerly Twitter) to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s congratulatory message.
Naqvi wrote:
“If war was your measure of pride, history already records your humiliating defeats at Pakistan’s hands. No cricket match can rewrite that truth. Dragging war into sport only exposes desperation and disgraces the very spirit of the game.”
The post shocked many. Instead of calming the situation, Naqvi added fuel to the fire by dragging war into cricket.
Analysts And Fans React Strongly
Naqvi’s response drew widespread condemnation. Cricket analysts said his remarks were out of line. Fans accused him of politicising sport and disrespecting the spirit of the game.
Many also pointed out that India had shown clear disapproval of Naqvi throughout the tournament. Players skipped the pre-toss photoshoot. They avoided handshakes with Pakistani players. The BCCI had also instructed that Naqvi should not present the trophy. For many, his reply to PM Modi only reinforced why India had taken that stand.
Off-Field Tensions Continue
Suryakumar Yadav’s dissapointment on not receiving the trophy.
“We took call on ground to not collect the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi but we waited on the ground for trophy, we won the trophy so we deserved to receive the same for playing so well”.
– Mohsin Naqvi ran away from… pic.twitter.com/4cCpMzBGv6
— Rajiv (@Rajiv1841) September 28, 2025
This wasn’t the first time Naqvi stirred controversy during the tournament. Earlier, he demanded ICC action against Suryakumar Yadav. The Indian batter had dedicated his innings to the Indian Army after the Pahalgam terror attack.
Such off-field provocations kept adding to the tension. Even as India dominated on the pitch, political undercurrents refused to stay away.
The Asia Cup 2025 final was supposed to be about cricketing brilliance. India’s win was emphatic. Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube’s partnership sealed a famous victory. Kuldeep Yadav’s spell rattled Pakistan’s middle order.
But instead of celebrating the triumph, headlines were hijacked by Mohsin Naqvi’s actions. From trophy drama to a controversial war-laced reply to PM Modi, the incident has left a bitter taste.
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