India refuses Asia Cup trophy after a dramatic and controversial presentation ceremony at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, following their thrilling last-over victory against Pakistan. The defending champions stayed true to their pre-tournament stance, boycotting PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chairman, and declined to accept the trophy on stage.
The post-match presentation was delayed by nearly an hour as the Pakistan team initially refused to vacate their dressing room. When the ceremony finally began, Indian fans loudly jeered Naqvi as he stepped onto the stage, chanting patriotic slogans and making his presence highly unwelcome. The tension stemmed from earlier incidents in the tournament, including the no-handshake controversy during the group-stage clash on September 14, which had already created a rift between the two boards.
Despite the chaos, some awards were handed out. Tilak Varma received the Player of the Match award for his unbeaten 69 off 53 balls, while Kuldeep Yadav and Shivam Dube were recognized for their pivotal contributions to India’s win. Kuldeep had taken four crucial wickets to trigger Pakistan’s collapse at 146 all out, while Dube struck a rapid 33 off 21 deliveries. India opener Abhishek Sharma was awarded Player of the Tournament for his stellar campaign.
However, when it came time to present the Asia Cup trophy to India, the ceremony abruptly ended. Broadcaster Simon Doull announced, “I have been informed by the Asian Cricket Council that the Indian cricket team will not be collecting their awards tonight. So that does conclude the post-match presentation.” The trophy was quietly taken to the Indian dressing room to avoid any further confrontation.
The decision by the Indian team underscored the deepening tensions between the two cricket boards. The champions had reportedly communicated beforehand that they would not accept the trophy from Naqvi, prompting ACC officials to scramble to manage the situation. With the Indian team refusing to participate in the ceremony, the incident became one of the most talked-about controversies in Asia Cup history.
Also Read: BCCI Hands Rs 21 Crore Prize to Team India After Thrilling 9th Asia Cup Victory
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