The Asia Cup 2025 was marred by controversies and tensions between rivals India and Pakistan. The off-field rivalry took another turn on Sunday as India refused to receive their winners' trophy from the PCB Chairman, Mohsin Naqvi.
India effectively boycotted the event, and while they expected to receive the trophy without the official presentation -- it was not possible. After Naqvi received the boycott from India, he reportedly left the place with the trophy, leaving India to celebrate the winning moment without the trophy.
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Former Pakistani cricketer Basit Ali has now backed the PCB Chairman and regarded India's boycott of the presentation as third-grade.
Basit Ali slams India's third-rate actions, supports Mohsin Naqvi
The controversy erupted when Team India decided to boycott the trophy presentation, with Mohsin Naqvi being the centre of it. Naqvi, being the Chairman of the Asian Cricket Council, was designated to present the champion side with the awards.
Talking to Arynews TV, Basit said, They are the No. 1-ranked team, but their actions are third-rate. Mohsin Naqvi will present the trophy - if they refuse to accept, they would be disgraced in the eyes of the world. The trophy should not be handed over."
Team India was not presented with the trophy eventually, after the presentation ceremony started after a long delay of over an hour. The side was seen celebrating without the trophy and seemed to be unbothered by the incident.
India's skipper, however, in a post-match press conference, mentioned that it was the first time in his life that a winning team was denied a trophy. Surya also remarked that India was the well-deserved champion, and that was more important to the side.
"You're the No.1 team, you played well and won, but what is this stubbornness? Mohsin Naqvi is the head of the Asian Cricket Council. Suppose it had been an ICC event, and Pakistan refused to accept the trophy from Jay Shah, Pakistan would have been wrong there," added Ali.
Apart from the on-field cricket, the Asia Cup 2025 would be remembered for all the wrong reasons. The event saw a series of controversial and unwanted events both on and off the field of play.
While there has been no official update on India's boycott incident, the matter has been a topic of much debate and discussion around the subcontinent, with divided opinions among fans and experts.
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