India beat Pakistan in Asia Cup 2025 Final: India Wins, But Snubs Trophy Presentation in Dubai Drama

India beat Pakistan in Asia Cup 2025 Final: India beat Pakistan in a nail-biting Asia Cup final, but refused to accept the trophy from PCB’s Mohsin Naqvi — here’s why and what comes next.

Asia Cup 2025 Final: India Clinches Title, But Trophy Drama Steals the Show

By Amit Koul
Date: 29 September 2025

The Match That Nearly Went Beyond Cricket: India beat Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 Final

In a thrilling final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, India edged past Pakistan by 5 wickets, chasing down a target of 147 with just two balls to spare. India finished at 150/5, while Pakistan was bowled out for 146 in 19.1 overs.

The hero of the chase was Tilak Varma, who remained unbeaten on 69 (53 balls), steering India from a shaky position of 20/3 early on. He built a key 60-run partnership with Shivam Dube (33 off 22) that stabilized the innings.

Pakistan’s innings, which had looked promising earlier at 113/1, collapsed dramatically. The Indian bowling attack — led by Kuldeep Yadav (4-30), supported by Bumrah, Axar Patel, and Varun Chakravarthy — triggered the collapse.

This victory gives India their ninth Asia Cup title overall, and they successfully defend the crown in the T20 format.

The Trophy Presentation That Never Happened: India beat Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 Final

What could have been a triumphant moment turned into one of the most talked-about controversies in recent cricket history. The post-match trophy ceremony was delayed by over an hour and ended abruptly without India ever receiving the main trophy or winners’ medals.

According to reports, Indian players refused to accept the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board and President of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), who is also Pakistan’s Interior Minister.

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It is claimed that India had instead requested the trophy to be handed over by Emirates Cricket Board Vice-Chairman Khalid Al Zarooni, which was denied. Naqvi then insisted on officiating, and the trophy was withdrawn midway through the ceremony.

Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav later lamented that his team was effectively “denied” the chance to lift the trophy after such a hard-fought win.

Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha expressed displeasure at India’s decision, calling it disrespectful to the spirit of the game.

Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik added fuel to the fire, suggesting that India may come to regret the snub, warning that it “will haunt them.”

Throughout the tournament, note, Indian and Pakistani players had already avoided customary gestures of sportsmanship — notably, handshake refusals before and after several matches.

What This Means Going Forward

BCCI protest expected: The Board of Control for Cricket in India is expected to lodge a formal protest with the ICC, demanding that players receive the trophies/medals they earned.

Sport vs politics tension deepens: This incident highlights how geopolitics can intrude on sports, especially in India–Pakistan fixtures, intensifying fan reactions on both sides.

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Public & media fallout: Social media has exploded with both praise and criticism — memes of “invisible trophy” celebrations, debates about respect and sportsmanship, and polarized commentary from former players.

ACC/PCB under scrutiny: How the ACC responds — whether it demands Naqvi apologize, or whether there is clarity on future presentation protocols — will be watched closely by cricket boards worldwide.

Legacy for players: For Tilak Varma and other players, the win remains, but the lasting memory might be tied as much to this controversy as to the performance.