India Wins Asia Cup 2025 But Refuses Trophy Over ACC Controversy

When India lifted the Asia Cup 2025 trophy after a crushing five-wicket win over Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium on September 29, 2025, the celebration was muted. The champions didn’t accept the physical trophy. Not because they didn’t earn it — they didn’t lose a single match all tournament — but because they refused to take it from Mohsin Naqvi, the Asian Cricket Council chief who also chairs the Pakistan Cricket Board. The moment sent shockwaves through cricketing circles. India had just completed a flawless campaign, beating Pakistan three times — including in the final — yet walked away empty-handed in terms of the trophy. The silence from the podium spoke louder than any speech.

The Match That Started It All: India vs Sri Lanka

The tournament’s first major talking point wasn’t the final — it was the September 26 clash between India and Sri Lanka. In a quiet but powerful moment, Pathum Nisanka, Sri Lanka’s elegant top-order batter, walked out to bat under the Dubai lights. His story wasn’t new — his father had once been a ground boy at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo — but in a tournament steeped in politics, it became symbolic. While India’s squad was filled with millionaires and brand ambassadors, Nisanka represented cricket’s grassroots. He didn’t score big that day (37 off 48), but his presence reminded everyone that cricket isn’t just about boards and budgets. It’s about boys whose fathers sweep the pitch, dreaming of standing on the same ground.

The Super Over That Broke the Rules

That same match also featured one of the most bizarre decisions in modern cricket history. In the Super Over, Dasun Shanaka — Sri Lanka’s captain — was clearly out of his crease when Sanju Samson whipped off the stumps with a direct hit. The third umpire, however, gave him not out. Why? Because the rules state that a batsman is only out if the bails are dislodged while he’s out of the crease — and the bails were already loose from a previous attempt. It was a technicality that felt like a loophole. Fans screamed. Analysts shook their heads. The ICC later issued a clarification, but it was too late. The damage was done. The moment exposed how outdated cricket’s playing regulations had become — and how easily they could be manipulated.

The Final: Pakistan’s Collapse and India’s Dominance

The final was a masterclass in pressure cricket. Pakistan, chasing 152, looked dominant at 113/1 in the 13th over. Then came Kuldeep Yadav. In a 17th over that will be replayed for decades, he took three wickets — Mohammad Rizwan, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Salman Agha — in just 12 balls. The collapse was catastrophic. Pakistan lost nine wickets for 33 runs. Jasprit Bumrah (2/21), Axar Patel (2/18), and Varun Chakaravarthy (2/24) completed the demolition. India won with six balls to spare. No team had ever gone unbeaten through the Asia Cup. India did it. And then came the refusal.

Why the Trophy Was Refused

The presentation ceremony began 45 minutes late. Players collected individual awards — Player of the Tournament, Best Bowler — but no trophy. When Mohsin Naqvi stepped forward with the silver cup, Suryakumar Yadav didn’t move. He didn’t shake hands. He didn’t take it. Later, in a raw, unscripted interview, he said: “I think this is one thing I have never seen. Since I started playing and following cricket, a champion team being denied a trophy. That too a hard-earned one.” He didn’t name Naqvi directly, but everyone knew. Naqvi’s dual role as ACC chief and PCB chairman made the optics toxic. For India, accepting the trophy from him felt like legitimizing a conflict of interest. The Board of Control for Cricket in India filed a formal complaint within hours. The Pakistan Cricket Board responded by accusing Yadav of “politicizing sport.”

A New Era of Cricket Diplomacy

This wasn’t just about a trophy. It was about boundaries — not on the field, but in the boardroom. For years, India and Pakistan had maintained a fragile, almost ritualistic sportsmanship. Captains shook hands. Players exchanged jerseys. But in 2025, that tradition died. In all three matches between the sides, Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan captain Salman Agha refused to shake hands at the coin toss. No words. No smiles. Just cold stares. The Asian Cricket Council remained silent. No investigation. No statement. The silence spoke volumes.

Meanwhile, Suryakumar Yadav announced he would donate his entire tournament match fees — roughly $23,000 — to the Indian armed forces. “I feel unbeaten in the tournament,” he said. “The boys stepped up whenever needed. I think those are the small moments, small trophies, which we won going forward into the World Cup year.” It was a quiet act of defiance — not against Pakistan, but against a system that had failed its own champions.

The Shadow of Shreyas Iyer

Even as the trophy controversy raged, another quiet story unfolded. Shreyas Iyer, India’s former ODI captain and a consistent run-scorer, was left out of the squad. His father, Santosh Iyer, told reporters: “He doesn’t show dissent on his face. He’ll just say, ‘It’s my luck. You can’t do anything now.’ He’s always cool and calm. Deep inside, he must be naturally disappointed.” Iyer’s omission raised questions about selection bias and internal politics — but in the storm of the trophy refusal, no one had time to ask.