When Victory Turned into Protest: India Declines Awards, Boycotts Pakistani Officials on Stage

India vs Pakistan: India won the Asia Cup 2025 title, but the incident after the match became a big topic of discussion. Team India flatly refused to accept all of its awards at the post-match presentation ceremony. The reason was Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Mohsin Naqvi.

Protest Against the Pahalgam Attack

Anger against Pakistan is simmering in India following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir Valley, on April 22nd. Following this attack, India launched a strong response with "Operation Sindoor." In response, Indian players refused to shake hands with Pakistani players during the tournament and now they have also refused to accept the trophy from Naqvi.

Delay in Presentation

Usually, the trophy ceremony takes place within a few minutes of the final, but this time, there was a wait of nearly an hour. Naqvi stood on stage holding the trophy, while the Indian team stood to one side. After a considerable delay, presenter Simon Doull announced that India had refused to accept the awards, and therefore the presentation was being concluded. With this, Naqvi left empty-handed.

Team India's Clear Message

Indian players made it clear that they would not take a trophy or respect from any Pakistani officer. This step is being seen by India as a strong message to Pakistan on every front. Team India posed for a group photo and celebrated without the trophy.

Match Status

In the final match, Pakistan scored 146 runs while batting first. In response, India achieved the target on the fourth ball of the last over. With this victory, India won the Asia Cup Trophy for a record ninth time.