India’s cricket team secured victory over Pakistan in the Asia Cup final held on September 10, 2023, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The win, marked by Tilak Varma’s impressive half-century, brought India its ninth Asia Cup title, but the post-match trophy presentation was overshadowed by political tensions and a refusal to accept the trophy from a senior Pakistani official.
The match concluded with India triumphing in the T20 format, yet the atmosphere soured during the awards ceremony, which experienced a delay of over one and a half hours. This delay was compounded by the Pakistani team, led by captain Salman Agha, arriving late. When the time came for the trophy to be presented, India’s players declined to accept it from Mohsin Naqvi, the chairman of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), as well as Pakistan’s Interior Minister.
Suryakumar Yadav, India’s T20 captain, expressed his discontent during a post-match media conference, stating, “This is one thing which I have never seen since I started playing cricket – a champion team is denied a trophy.” He emphasized the hard work that led to their victory, saying, “I feel we deserved it.”
The ACC had previously announced that Naqvi would present the trophy. Despite the Indian team’s refusal, Naqvi reportedly remained at the ceremony, and an official removed the Asia Cup trophy from the presentation podium. Simon Doull, a former New Zealand cricketer and broadcaster, announced, “I have been informed by the ACC that the Indian cricket team will not be collecting their awards tonight.”
India’s players did receive individual awards, including player of the match and player of the tournament, but they notably did not acknowledge Naqvi during the ceremony. Meanwhile, the Pakistani team received their runners-up medals from Aminul Islam, the president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board.
Devajit Saikia, secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), confirmed that the Indian team would not accept the trophy from Naqvi, stating, “It is very unfortunate, and we hope that the trophy and the medals will be returned to India as soon as possible.” He further indicated that the BCCI intends to lodge a formal protest during an upcoming ICC conference in November.
The Asia Cup final highlighted the strained cricketing ties between India and Pakistan, which had been exacerbated by political tensions earlier in the year. The two nations had recently faced a tense border situation that disrupted their domestic leagues. The refusal to shake hands during this tournament, including at the toss and after matches, was part of a broader political context, leading to significant scrutiny from fans and media alike.
Agha voiced his disappointment regarding the Indian team’s actions, remarking, “Good teams don’t do what they did today.” He suggested that the behavior displayed by India sends a negative message to younger fans in both nations.
The controversy surrounding the trophy presentation serves as a reminder of the complex relationship between cricket and politics in the region, with both teams caught in a cycle of rivalry that extends beyond the sport itself. As the fallout from this incident unfolds, it remains to be seen how it will impact future encounters between these two cricketing giants.
