Delhi, 29 September (H.S.): A day after India’s emphatic five-wicket triumph over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 final in Dubai, tensions spilled off the field as Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi accused India of “disgracing the spirit of cricket.”

Naqvi, who also serves as Asian Cricket Council chairman, had stormed out of the post-match presentation ceremony when Indian players refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy from his hands. The incident sparked prolonged drama, delaying the ceremony by over 90 minutes.

During this period, Indian players collected individual awards from other dignitaries, but conspicuously declined to acknowledge Naqvi.In a social media post responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s congratulatory message, Naqvi lashed out, alleging India’s victory celebrations dragged geopolitics into sport.

“Dragging war into sport only exposes desperation and disgraces the very spirit of the game,” he wrote.

PM Modi, hailing India’s dominant win, had earlier declared, “Operation Sindoor on the games field. Outcome is the same – India wins!”

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia later confirmed that India had formally declined to receive the trophy from Naqvi, prompting him to leave the stage with the trophy and medals in tow. Despite the snub, jubilant Indian cricketers posed with an imaginary trophy as fireworks lit up Dubai’s skies.

The Asia Cup finale underscored India’s dominance—on the field with another title win, and off the field with a symbolic rejection of a political rival’s overture.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar