Asia Cup 2025: India and Pakistan's Rivalry Intensifies
Pakistan captain Salman Agha criticized India's actions, stating that they had “disrespected cricket.” In contrast, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav expressed frustration that his team was denied the trophy despite winning the Asia Cup, a tournament marked by intense rivalry and ill feeling between the two teams.
“It appeared on the big screen that India is the Asia Cup 2025 champion...”
The Asia Cup 2025 trophy presentation ceremony between India and Pakistan took an unexpected turn, with India refusing to collect the trophy from ACC President Mohsin Naqvi. The Indian team management had decided not to take the trophy from Naqvi, who is also the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, due to the tense relations between the two countries.
The ceremony was delayed by almost an hour, reportedly due to behind-the-scenes negotiations between the ACC and BCCI officials regarding Naqvi's role in presenting the trophy. When Naqvi finally took the stage, broadcaster Simon Doull announced that the Indian team would not be collecting their awards, citing information from the ACC.
Pakistan captain Salman Agha expressed disappointment, stating that India had “disrespected cricket” by refusing to collect the trophy. In contrast, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav highlighted that his team was denied the trophy after winning the Asia Cup.
The Indian team did not participate in the trophy presentation ceremony, while the Pakistan team collected their runners-up medals amidst loud boos from the Indian spectators. Abhishek Sharma, the Player of the Tournament, received his award separately.
INSTAGRAM STORY OF TILAK VARMA...!!!! 😂 pic.twitter.com/1mEJHlIR0M
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) September 29, 2025
The Indian cricket team, led by Suryakumar Yadav, refused to accept the Asia Cup 2025 trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chairman and Pakistan's interior minister, after their thrilling 5-wicket win over Pakistan in the final. Instead of accepting the trophy, the Indian players celebrated their victory by mimicking holding a trophy, showcasing their dominance over their arch-rivals.
Suryakumar expressed his disappointment and surprise at the unusual turn of events, stating, “I think this is one thing which I have never seen since I started playing cricket that the champion team is denied the trophy. That too, a hard-earned one.” He emphasized that the decision to not accept the trophy was made collectively by the team on the ground.
“We took the call on the ground about not taking the trophy,” Suryakumar said, adding that they waited for the trophy to be presented but ultimately decided against accepting it from Naqvi. When asked if the BCCI had instructed them to do so, Suryakumar replied, “I don't know about the mail that you're talking about. We took this call on the ground. Nobody told us to do that.”
The Indian captain downplayed the significance of physical trophies, saying, “If you tell me about trophies, my trophies are sitting in my dressing room. All 14 guys with me. All the support staff. Those are the real trophies.” He highlighted the importance of the team's camaraderie and the memories they created during the tournament.
“It appeared on the big screen that India is the Asia Cup 2025 champion. It was a great journey and moment for us as a team.”
The Asia Cup 2025, held in the United Arab Emirates, marked a significant encounter between India and Pakistan, two cricketing giants with a history of intense rivalry. This tournament was particularly notable as it came after a period of heightened tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, following a deadly military conflict. The matches between India and Pakistan were played against a backdrop of political posturing and flashpoints, reflecting the strained relations between the two nations.
The rivalry between India and Pakistan was evident in their previous encounters during the tournament. The teams had already clashed in two earlier matches, showcasing not just their competitive spirit but also the underlying tensions between them. These matches were marked by incidents that highlighted the fragile relationship between the two cricketing nations.
The final match between India and Pakistan saw India emerge victorious, winning by five wickets. However, the victory was overshadowed by a controversy surrounding the trophy presentation. The Indian team refused to accept the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, the president of the Asian Cricket Council and Pakistan's interior minister, citing dissatisfaction with the presentation. This incident further escalated tensions between the two nations, with both sides trading accusations.
The trophy controversy has led to a diplomatic row between India and Pakistan, with both nations summoning each other's high commissioners to lodge formal protests. The incident has sparked widespread debate about sportsmanship, political influence, and the future of India-Pakistan cricketing relations. The Asian Cricket Council has announced an investigation into the incident, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the spirit of sportsmanship and upholding diplomatic protocols.
The presentation ceremony was delayed for an hour before announcer Simon Doull said: “I have been informed by the ACC that the Indian cricket team will not be collecting their awards tonight. So that does conclude the post-match presentation.”
Pakistan's Agha said India's actions during the tournament had been “bad for cricket.”
“I think what has happened in this tournament is very disappointing,” Agha told reporters.
“If they think they disrespected us by not shaking hands, then I say they disrespected cricket.
“What they did today, a good team doesn't do that. Good teams do what we have done. We waited for our medals and took them.
“It's been seen for the first time. I do not know where it will stop. What has happened in this tournament is bad for cricket.”
India's Jasprit Bumrah bowled Haris Rauf for 6 runs in the 18th over of the Asia Cup 2025 final and celebrated the dismissal with a crashing plane gesture. This move was seen as a response to Rauf's similar gesture in their previous Super Four encounter, where Rauf appeared to mock India's military action.
Rauf's gesture had led to a fine of 30% of his match fees, as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) lodged a complaint with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). Bumrah's celebration sparked a mixed reaction on social media, with some fans praising it as “poetic justice” and others criticizing it for crossing the line of sportsmanship.
In their previous matches, Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan had also courted controversy with a gun celebration after hitting a half-century. The intense rivalry between India and Pakistan was evident throughout the tournament, with both teams trading accusations and engaging in heated exchanges.
India's bowlers, led by Kuldeep Yadav's 4 wickets for 30 runs, Axar Patel's 2/26, and Varun Chakravarthy's 2/30, restricted Pakistan to 146 runs. In response, India's Tilak Varma and Rinku Singh played crucial roles in securing a 5-wicket win for India.
Military Tensions Between India and Pakistan Spill Over into Cricket
The rivalry between India and Pakistan extends beyond politics and military conflicts, intensely manifesting in cricket matches. Due to long-standing tensions, the two nations primarily compete against each other in international tournaments held on neutral territory. This backdrop of strained relations was evident in their recent Asia Cup 2025 encounters, where military tensions likely exacerbated the competitive atmosphere.
In May 2025, India and Pakistan engaged in a four-day conflict that resulted in over 70 deaths on both sides, with missile, drone, and military fire exchanges. India launched “Operation Sindoor,” targeting alleged militant camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, citing retaliation for the Pahalgam terrorist attack that killed 26 civilians. Pakistan responded with “Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos,” claiming to have targeted several Indian military bases. The conflict ended with a ceasefire agreement after hotline communication between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both countries.
The military tensions between the two nations have undoubtedly affected their cricket matches, with incidents like Jasprit Bumrah's “crashing plane” gesture in response to Haris Rauf's similar action in a previous match. These gestures underscore the deep-seated rivalry and tension that permeate their sporting encounters.
BUMRAH DID A PLANE CELEBRATION AFTER THE WICKET OF RAUF 🔥#HarisRauf #indvspak #INDvPAK pic.twitter.com/bipb3M1e9L
— Asia Cup 2025 (@bgt2027) September 28, 2025
Operation Sindoor: India's Military Action Against Pakistan
India launched “Operation Sindoor” on May 7, 2025, a coordinated precision strike operation targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK). The operation was in retaliation for the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people.
The name “Operation Sindoor” is symbolic, referencing the Hindi word for vermilion, a substance traditionally worn by married Hindu women on their foreheads. This naming convention is seen as a representation of India's determination to avenge the victims of the Pahalgam attack and those widowed by it.
The Indian Armed Forces conducted a joint operation involving the Army, Navy, and Air Force, utilizing advanced systems like SCALP Cruise Missiles, HAMMER Precision-Guided Bombs, and Loitering Munitions. The targets included terrorist camps and infrastructure linked to groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen.
The operation led to a significant diplomatic exchange between India and Pakistan, with India's Permanent Mission to the UN highlighting Pakistan's military plea for cessation of fighting during Operation Sindoor. This development underscores the complexities of India-Pakistan relations, particularly regarding cross-border terrorism.
#OperationSindoor on the games field.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 28, 2025
Outcome is the same - India wins!
Congrats to our cricketers.
“#OperationSindoor on the games field,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on X after Sunday's win.
“Outcome is the same - India wins! Congrats to our cricketers.”
Naqvi was quick to respond, saying: “If war was your measure of pride, history already records your humiliating defeats at Pakistan's hands.”
Key Highlights
- Winner: India won the Asia Cup 2025 by defeating Pakistan by 5 wickets
- Prize Money: India received $30,000 (approximately INR 21 crore) as winners, while Pakistan received $20,000 as runners-up
- Player of the Tournament: Abhishek Sharma won the award for his outstanding performance
- Most Valuable Player: Kuldeep Yadav was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournamen
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