IND vs PAK | Controversy mars post-match proceedings as India celebrate Asia Cup win without silverware

‌India refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy after a thrilling five-wicket win over Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. The team management had communicated their objection to collect the trophy from the Asian Cricket Council president Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board and the interior minister of Pakistan.

As a result, India was not awarded a trophy during the ceremony, and the side went on to celebrate their win with an imaginary trophy. The Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary Devajit Saikia also put forward strong reservations against Mohsin Naqvi for not allowing the winning side to celebrate with the trophy after the presentation ceremony.

"We have decided not to take the Asia Cup trophy from the ACC chairman, who happens to be one of the main leaders of Pakistan," Saikia told ANI. "So we decided not to take it from him. But that does not mean that the gentleman will take away the trophy with him, along with the medals. So it is very unfortunate and we hope that the trophy and the medals will be returned to India as soon as possible.

"There is an ICC conference in November in Dubai. In the next conference, we are going to launch a very serious and very strong protest against the act of the ACC chairperson."

The Indian players stayed on the field after winning in the final over of the game as the Pakistan players made their way to the dressing room. The presentation ceremony got delayed by almost an hour as the losing side made their way to the ground, with the dignitaries also lining up for the function.

But just as the Indian players collected their individual awards from other dignitaries and the Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha took the cheque for the runners-up, presenter Simon Doull announced that the ceremony stands closed. Just as the dignitaries left, the players and support staff took center stage before Suryakumar Yadav lifted an imaginary cup before them.

"I have been informed by the Asian Cricket Council that the Indian cricket team will not be collecting their awards tonight," Simon Doull, the presenter for the host broadcaster, said at the ceremony. "So that does conclude the post-match presentation."

Indian skipper Suryakumar was also critical of the ACC President’s gesture as he lauded his team for a clinical performance during the post-match press conference.

 "I think this is one thing which I have never seen since I started playing cricket, started following cricket, that a champion team is denied a trophy, that too a hard-earned one. I feel we deserved it. I can't say anything more, I've summed it up really well. If you tell me about trophies, my trophies are sitting in the dressing room, all the 14 guys with me, the support staff, those are the real trophies throughout this journey in the Asia Cup."