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New Delhi: India's five-wicket victory over Pakistan in the historic Asia Cup 2025 final should have been a moment of pride and unity, but it turned out to be one of the most controversial post-match episodes in recent cricket history. At the centre of it was the Pakistan minister and ACC chief, Mohsin Naqvi.
The Indian team, led by Suryakumar Yadav, refused to accept the trophy from Naqvi after the match, which might be due to his political stance and remarks targeting India, as the bilateral relations between the two are not good. What followed was chaos on stage as the tense standoff lasted nearly an hour and later Naqvi reportedly left the venue with the trophy. The once-celebratory atmosphere in Dubai was overshadowed by chants from Indian fans and stunned silence from officials.
If that wasn't enough, Naqvi reignited the controversy hours later by replying to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's congratulatory tweet for Team India. His response dragged war and politics into a cricketing sphere that should’ve been about sportsmanship.
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.”
The tweet, viewed as a desperate attempt to deflect criticism over his behavior during the presentation, drew immediate backlash. Indian fans, cricketers, and political observers condemned his remarks as “provocative” and “undignified,” accusing him of turning a sporting event into a political battleground.
Following widespread outrage, Naqvi’s official X (formerly Twitter) account was disabled in India with users now unable to access his posts. Many called the move justified, given his repeated attempts to politicise cricket and spread hostility online.
The controversy began when India declined to receive the trophy from Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s Home Minister and the Asian Cricket Council’s president. Efforts by ACC officials to bring in Emirates Cricket Board’s vice-chairman Khalid Al Zarooni as a neutral presenter were reportedly blocked by Naqvi himself.
Eventually, the trophy presentation held with the presenters giving away leaving only individual awards. As reports claim Naqvi left the venue with the trophy later on, deepening the embarrassment for the ACC.
This isn't the first brush with controversy from his end. Earlier, also he posted a video featuring Cristiano Ronaldo mimicking a fighter jet gesture, which was seen as an endorsement of Pakistani bowler Haris Rauf's infamous "6-0" and jet celebration. Naqvi was accused by critics for glorifying conflict instead of condemning such actions.
As the debate continues, one thing is clear: India’s remarkable triumph has been overshadowed by Naqvi's actions. What should have been a celebration of cricketing excellence has turned into a cautionary tale about how politics, when mixed with sport, can leave even the sweetest victory tasting bitter.
