Asia Cup Trophy Row: How will India get the trophy if it has refused to accept it?

After defeating Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 final, India refused to accept the trophy due to the presence of Pakistani minister Mohsin Naqvi. The trophy remains unclaimed, and BCCI may raise the issue at the ICC. But the question remain inconclusive: how will India get back its trophy?

New Delhi: The final of the Asia Cup 2025 was held in Dubai, where India defeated Pakistan by 5 wickets to win the title. However, when it came time to present the trophy after the match, the Indian team refused to accept it.

Why did India refuse to accept the trophy?

The Indian team did not accept the trophy because Mohsin Naqvi—Pakistan's Home Minister, Chairman of the PCB, and President of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC)—was present on the stage to present the trophy.

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Since India and Pakistan's political relations are not good, the Indian team did not consider it appropriate to accept the trophy from the Pakistani minister.

What will happen next?

When the Indian team refused to accept the trophy, Mohsin Naqvi took it with him to his hotel. This further escalated the controversy.

What do the rules say?

Even if a team does not receive the trophy on stage, the winning team is the legal owner of the trophy. The runner-up (losing team) cannot claim the trophy.

Where does the trophy reside?

In such a situation, it is the responsibility of the organizers to keep the trophy safe and hand it over to the actual winning team when the situation returns to normal. But the captain must provide a reason.

If a captain publicly refuses to accept the trophy, they must provide a reason. Then, the tournament's governing body (such as the ACC or ICC) investigates the matter.

What could be the punishment?

Under ICC rules, not accepting the trophy can be considered against the spirit of the game. In such a case, a warning, fine, or action may be taken, but this depends entirely on the severity of the matter.

Cricket is not just a game; it also involves respect, tradition, and sportsmanship. If a team does not take the trophy, its image and the reputation of the sport could be damaged.

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What could happen next?

The captain or the board will explain the reasons. The BCCI may raise this issue at an ICC meeting. The ICC may investigate whether this constitutes a violation of the Code of Conduct.

It is clear that India won the Asia Cup. The reason for not taking the trophy was political, but it also had an impact on the game. Now it remains to be seen when the trophy will be returned and what action the ICC takes in this regard.