Former Pakistan skipper Shoaib Malik has taken a swipe at the Indian cricket team for their refusal to accept the Asia Cup 2025 trophy after their five-wicket win against Pakistan in the final. The Indian players declined to receive the trophy as a mark of protest against Asia Cricket Council (ACC) president Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman and the country’s Interior Minister. Reports suggest that Naqvi eventually left the venue with the trophy in hand.
Malik criticised the move, saying it tarnished the team’s hard-earned victory and would eventually weigh on their minds.
“Just see how much pressure the players went through to win the Asia Cup. How much heat there was that they played in. They worked so hard. Why did they do all that hard work? To win the Asia Cup trophy, to win the tournament! And after they’ve worked so hard, you don’t even come to take the trophy,” chuckled Malik. “It was such a big achievement, and that too after such a close match. It’s a massive moment.”
Malik Warns India the Decision Will “Haunt” Them
Malik went further, predicting that India’s actions could haunt the players in the years to come.
“Look, today, they might be celebrating this thing like this. But down the line, after a few years, this will haunt them. They’ll think: ‘We won the trophy, we worked hard’. They are athletes and sportsmen. A sportsman’s job is to come to the ground, give your best shot, and that’s it.”
The incident that triggered the Indian team’s refusal reportedly stemmed from Naqvi’s controversial activity on social media. According to The Indian Express, he reposted images on X featuring Pakistan cricketers such as captain Salman Agha and Shaheen Shah Afridi dressed in flight suits with fighter jets in the background under the caption “Final Day.” Earlier in the tournament, Naqvi had also shared a picture of football star Cristiano Ronaldo symbolising a crashing airplane — a move that reportedly angered the Indian camp.
Suryakumar Yadav Defends India’s Stand
Team India captain Suryakumar Yadav backed the team’s collective decision, suggesting that the players valued something far more meaningful than the silverware itself.
“I have never seen a champion (team) not getting a trophy. We deserved it. The real trophies are my 14 colleagues and they will stay in my memory,” Suryakumar said at the post-match press conference.
The decision has divided opinion within the cricket community. While some view India’s actions as a symbolic protest, others — including Malik — believe it overshadowed their Asia Cup 2025 triumph and undermined the spirit of the sport.
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