The 2025 Asia Cup trophy handover has turned into a major controversy after Mohsin Naqvi, president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), refused to hand over the silverware to Team India following their title win over Pakistan in Dubai. Naqvi, who is also Pakistan’s interior minister and PCB chairman, insisted that India captain Suryakumar Yadav travel to the UAE later to collect the trophy from the ACC headquarters — a demand that the Indian team declined.
As a result, Naqvi walked away from the venue with the trophy still in his possession, denying India’s players the opportunity to celebrate their triumph on the field with the silverware after a dominating campaign.
Madan Lal Blasts Naqvi: ‘No Knowledge of Sportsmanship’
The move has drawn widespread criticism, including a strong reaction from Madan Lal, a member of India’s 1983 World Cup-winning squad. He accused Naqvi of showing a complete lack of understanding of how sports should be conducted and claimed his actions have “damaged Pakistan’s reputation.”
“All this should never have happened. The moment when players lift the trophy on the field, in front of fans and cameras, is what makes victory special,” Madan Lal told India Today.
“Mohsin Naqvi has no knowledge of the sport — neither how it’s played nor how one should behave. There were so many Indian players on the podium; he could have simply asked someone else to present the trophy. Instead, the PCB chief has ruined his own and his country’s image,” he added.
‘Why Should Surya Go to the ACC Office?’
Madan Lal also ridiculed the suggestion that Suryakumar Yadav should collect the trophy from the ACC office later, calling it illogical and disrespectful.
“Why should Surya go to the Asian Cricket Council office to pick up the trophy? India won it — they should have been allowed to celebrate it on the ground,” he said. “But clearly, he doesn’t understand. In their country, everything is decided by the armed forces.”
The incident has sparked widespread outrage across the cricketing world, with many calling it one of the most disrespectful moments in modern cricket — overshadowing what should have been a memorable victory for India.
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