VOIWORLD
The Asia Cup 2025 final turned into a storm on and off the field as India defeated Pakistan by five wickets, only to be denied the trophy presentation in a dramatic post-match controversy.
Suryakumar Yadav’s side chased down the target in style, with Tilak Varma’s unbeaten half-century sealing India’s third straight win over Pakistan in the tournament. However, the celebrations were overshadowed when the Indian team refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi, who is also a Pakistani politician. Naqvi then reportedly left the stadium with the trophy and winners’ medals, leaving India to celebrate empty-handed.
The episode sparked uproar in Pakistani media:
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Dawn: “Politics spill over again in cricket as India refuse to collect Asia Cup trophy.”
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Geo News: “Trophy Controversy! India’s New Drama After Victory.”
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The News International: “India defeat Pakistan by five wickets in controversy-hit Asia Cup final.”
Former Pakistan stars also voiced anger, not just over the controversy, but also at their team’s performance:
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Shahid Afridi: “Disappointment is there, but I knew about my team’s status and India’s too.”
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Ramiz Raja: “These are the moments where you must introspect to see why mistakes keep happening.”
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Shoaib Akhtar: “Pakistan’s middle order is fragile. If the openers fail, the collapse is inevitable. The team panics and loses its head.”
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Basit Ali: “Are these players even professionals? They earn money but don’t do what’s expected on the field.”
The trophy row and Pakistan’s defeat have left fans and analysts questioning the state of their cricket, with many calling for urgent reforms.
