‘Dragging war into sport only exposes desperation and disgraces the very spirit of the game,’ says Mohsin Naqvi

India's thrilling five-wicket win over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 final was marred by post-match drama involving Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president and Pakistan minister Mohsin Naqvi. Tensions erupted when the Indian team refused to accept the trophy from Naqvi. Efforts by ACC officials to have Emirates Cricket Board vice-chairman Khalid Al Zarooni present the awards were blocked by Naqvi, resulting in a nearly hour-long standoff. Eventually, the trophy was removed without a formal presentation, though standout Indian performers like Tilak Varma and Abhishek Sharma were individually honored.

The controversy deepened when Naqvi responded on X to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s congratulatory message. In a sharply worded post, Naqvi wrote:

“If war was your measure of pride, history already records your humiliating defeats at Pakistan’s hands. No cricket match can rewrite that truth. Dragging war into sport only exposes desperation and disgraces the very spirit of the game.”

Naqvi’s comments sparked outrage among fans and cricket commentators, who criticized him for politicizing a sporting event and showing disrespect to the champions. The incident follows ongoing tensions, including India’s symbolic snubs toward Pakistan throughout the tournament.(With inputs from Agencies)