India's thrilling victory over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 final has been overshadowed by a dramatic trophy presentation incident. The match, which saw India clinch their ninth title, ended with a 5-wicket win, thanks to standout performances from Kuldeep Yadav, who took four wickets, and Tilak Varma, who scored an unbeaten 69.

As Indian players celebrated their win, the Pakistan team, led by captain Salman Ali Agha, retreated to their dressing room, locking themselves in for an hour. This delay caused chaos during the post-match presentation, which was further complicated by the Indian team's refusal to accept the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).

The Indian team had requested to receive the trophy from Khalid Al Zarooni, vice-chairman of the Emirates Board, but this was denied. Naqvi insisted on presenting the medals, leading to a tense atmosphere. Indian fans in the stadium responded with boos and chants as Naqvi approached the stage.

Simon Doull, the presenter, announced that the Pakistan team would receive their runners-up medals from Naqvi, but instead, Aminul Islam, president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, handed them over. The situation escalated when Salman Ali Agha threw aside the cheque for the runners-up. Doull later confirmed that the Indian team would not be collecting their awards that night, prompting all ACC officials, including Naqvi, to leave the stadium.

Despite the confusion, the Indian team remained on the podium, with Hardik Pandya taking a selfie and captain Suryakumar Yadav celebrating in a playful manner. In the post-match press conference, Yadav expressed frustration over the trophy being withheld, stating, "I have never seen a champion team being denied a trophy, that too a hard-earned one." Abhishek Sharma added humorously, "We actually got one — Surya bhai brought it! We felt it, we knew its weight."

In response, Pakistan's captain criticized the Indian team's stance, saying, "If he (Mohsin Naqvi) is the ACC president, then he will only give the trophy. If you don’t want to take it from him, how will you get a trophy?"

The Indian Cricket Board's secretary, Devajit Saikia, condemned the PCB's actions, stating, "We decided not to accept the Asia Cup 2025 trophy from the ACC chairman, who represents a country currently at odds with ours. That was our stance. But this does not give him the right to take the trophy and medals. It is extremely unfortunate and unsportsmanlike. We hope the trophy and medals are returned to India as soon as possible. We will launch a serious protest at the ICC conference in Dubai this November."

This incident has sparked discussions about sportsmanship and the complexities of international cricket, especially in high-stakes matches between India and Pakistan.