Ten days after India’s emphatic win over Pakistan in the 2025 Asia Cup final at Dubai, the champions are still waiting to lay their hands on the trophy.

What should have been a moment of glory for Rohit Sharma’s men has spiraled into an unprecedented controversy involving the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, Mohsin Naqvi.

Despite India’s ninth Asia Cup title, the silverware remains out of reach — literally. The trophy, last seen in Naqvi’s possession, has yet to reach Indian soil.

The bizarre standoff began moments after the final, when Naqvi reportedly insisted on personally handing the trophy to the Indian team in a private ceremony — a proposal the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) flatly rejected.

What followed has been nothing short of farcical. According to sources, Naqvi took the trophy back to his hotel and later had it moved to the ACC’s Dubai headquarters.

Nearly two weeks later, the impasse continues, and the champions are still without their cup.

Adding insult to injury, Naqvi reappeared in public this week — not at a press briefing, but at Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed’s wedding, where he was cornered by reporters demanding answers:

“Where is the Asia Cup trophy?” and “What’s your response to Suryakumar Yadav’s comments?”

Naqvi, however, chose silence over clarity — flashing a tight, awkward smile before being swiftly escorted to his car by pacer Shaheen Afridi.

The video of the encounter — and Naqvi’s smirk — has since gone viral, intensifying outrage across both cricket boards and social media.

The BCCI, sources say, plans to escalate the issue to the International Cricket Council (ICC) if the trophy is not returned soon.

The governing body is reportedly furious over what it describes as a “disrespectful and embarrassing” episode that has robbed players of their rightful moment of celebration.

The saga stems from Naqvi’s bruised ego after the final presentation, where he allegedly felt “insulted” when both teams delayed the post-match ceremony, leaving him stranded on stage.

His frustration only grew when Indian officials requested that someone else present the trophy — a demand Naqvi flatly refused.

Even Pakistan’s skipper Salman Ali Agha added to the drama, tossing away the runner-up cheque in front of Naqvi in frustration — a moment captured on live broadcast.

As of now, the Asia Cup trophy remains in limbo, locked in Dubai while cricket’s fiercest rivals lock horns off the field. India, undefeated throughout the tournament, may have conquered Pakistan thrice on the pitch — but off it, the battle for their hard-earned prize has only just begun.