‘Our real trophies are in the dressing room’: Suryakumar Yadav on Asia Cup prize row

Dubai: India sealed their ninth Asia Cup crown with a five-wicket win over Pakistan in Dubai, but celebrations turned unusual after the team refused to accept the trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chairman Mohsin Naqvi.

The presentation ceremony was delayed for almost an hour. When the Indian squad refused to take the cup, the trophy was removed from the podium. Broadcaster Simon Doull told the crowd: “The Indian cricket team will not be collecting their awards tonight.”

Speaking later, captain Suryakumar Yadav said: “A champion team denied a trophy – I’ve never seen this in cricket. But for me, the real trophies are in our dressing room: 14 players and the support staff.”

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed India’s stance, stating the board will lodge a formal protest at the upcoming ICC conference in Dubai. He stressed the cup must still be handed to India, despite their refusal to receive it directly from Naqvi. He stressed that while India would not accept the trophy from Naqvi, “it must still be returned to us.”

Also read: 'PCB head Naqvi ran away with the trophy to his hotel room': BCCI after Asia Cup 2025 final

The controversy capped weeks of tension during the tournament, from India’s refusal to shake hands with Pakistan’s players to Pakistan’s brief threat to withdraw. Despite the politics, India celebrated a ninth Asia Cup triumph – marked not by silverware, but by a captain’s words of solidarity.

The incident follows weeks of tension between the two cricket boards, including India’s refusal to shake hands with Pakistani players during the tournament. Pakistan at one stage even threatened to quit over the “handshake controversy.”

The win was India’s ninth Asia Cup title and their second in the T20 format – celebrated not with medals and a trophy, but with words of solidarity inside the dressing room.

(With AP inputs)