BCCI blasts PCB chief Naqvi for running away with Asia Cup trophy, medals after India’s thrilling win against Pakistan

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday blasted Pakistani Interior Minister and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi for running away with the Asia Cup trophy and medals after India’s thrilling victory against Pakistan in the tournament final at the Dubai International Stadium.

In a dramatic twist after Rinku Singh hit the winning four in the Asia Cup 2025 final in Dubai on Sunday night, India refused to accept the trophy and medals from Naqvi.

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India was reportedly ready to receive the trophy and medals from Emirates Cricket Board vice-chairman Khalid Al Zarooni and BCB’s Aminul Islam. However, Naqvi was adamant on presenting the trophy himself but India firmly rejected it in the backdrop of the recent military conflict with Pakistan. After this, Naqvi reportedly took the trophy and medals to his hotel room.

Reacting to the Pakistani official’s behaviour, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia said that Naqvi’s actions were “totally unexpected” and that India will lodge a strong protest against him. Saikia also defended India’s decision to not accept the trophy from the Pakistani minister, who is also the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board.

“India is fighting a war with a country, and a leader belonging to that country was supposed to hand over the trophy to us… We cannot accept a trophy from a person who represents a country that is waging a war against our country. So we have refused to take that trophy, but that does not mean that the gentleman will take the trophy and the medals, which are to be given to our country, to his own hotel room.

“That is totally unexpected, and we hope that his good sense will prevail. We are going to lodge a very strong protest against the behaviour of the gentleman in today’s prize distribution ceremony,” Saikia was quoted as saying by ANI.

Earlier on Sunday, India defeated Pakistan by five wickets to win its 9th Asia Cup title. After winning the toss, Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav invited Pakistan to bat first.

They got a decent start with openers — Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman — stitching an 84-run partnership for the first wicket. Pakistan was 113-1 at 12.4 overs, and looked threatening but Indian spinners turned things around dramatically, sparking a stunning collapse.

Pakistan was bundled out for 146 in 19.1 overs. Chasing the below-par total, India didn’t have a good start and reeled at 20-3 in four overs with both openers, Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill, along with skipper Suryakumar Yadav back in the hut.

However, Tilak Verma and Sanju Samson did the repair work with a 57-run stand before the latter fell victim to Abrar Ahmed.

Shivam Dubey, the next man in, played a sensible knock of 33 off 22, adding another 56 runs with Tilak Verma to take the Men-in-Blue close to the title win.

Tilak was the standout performer with an unbeaten 69 off just 53 balls but it was Rinku Singh, who hit the winning runs.