After Rinku Singh smashed a boundary through covers to win the Asia Cup 2025 against Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), there was nearly a wait of one and a half hour before the presentation party. It was reported that the Suryakumar Yadav-led side wasn’t prepared to accept the title from the chairman of ACC, Mohsin Naqvi.

Mohsin Naqvi later escaped with the trophy, and India had to pose for the pictures without the cup. The reports of Cricbuzz have revealed that the silverware, which was carried away from the Dubai stadium after the Indian team refused to accept it from Naqvi, is locked up in the ACC office in Dubai at present.

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The instructions have been issued by Naqvi, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) staff that it shouldn’t be moved from the office without his authorization. It’s housed within the ICC academy in Dubai and is staffed by only two employees.

India to finally receive their winning Asia Cup 2025 trophy after this meeting

The core issue is how the entire process will be solved. At the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the ACC in Dubai on September 30, it was decided that the five-Test playing nations under the ACC- India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh- would take care of the unresolved matter and come to a conclusion. Their meeting is scheduled to happen next month, coinciding with the ICC’s quarterly gathering in Dubai.

But things won’t be that simple if Naqvi doesn’t turn up for the meeting. It’s not confirmed that Naqvi will attend the meeting. He had stayed away from the ICC Annual Conference in July, and some believe that there is a chance that he would send his representatives to the meeting, which is going to take place from November 04 to 07.

In such a situation, the deadlock could persist. The trophy may continue to get dust in the ACC official. A lot will depend on how the BCCI handles the entire situation. They are not helpless and may take now actions to ensure that the Indian team receives the prize they won.

Former ICC umpire Anil Chaudhary has criticized the ongoing Asia Cup trophy controversy, taking aim at Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi for his actions after the final. Despite India’s dominant win over Pakistan more than two weeks ago, the Suryakumar Yadav-led team is yet to receive the trophy and winner’s medals.

According to reports, Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s Interior Minister, left the stadium with the awards after Indian players reportedly refused to accept them from him due to his known anti-India stance. The incident sparked major criticism and confusion among fans and officials alike.

Naqvi has since maintained that the Indian team can only claim the trophy by collecting it directly from him. Chaudhary condemned the episode, calling it unprofessional and disrespectful to the spirit of the game, emphasizing that such controversies tarnish the prestige of a major tournament like the Asia Cup.

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Former ICC Umpire Criticizes Mohsin Naqvi:

As the trophy standoff continues, Anil Chaudhary expressed his frustration during an appearance on the Raunac Podcast. He strongly criticized Mohsin Naqvi’s conduct following the Asia Cup final, calling it unnecessary and disrespectful to the players who had earned their victory on the field.

He said, “ Anybody could have handed over the trophy. There were plenty of individuals representing the UAE authority as well. Nothing states that you have to collect the trophy from just one person.”

He added, “ It has no mention in the rules but woh Sajjan trophy leke chale gaye (he took away the trophy). Sajjan also has another meaning. Like I said, there's no rule that only one person has to hand over the trophy. I don't even know who he is.”

The 60-year-old termed Mohsin Naqvi’s behaviour as strange and unacceptable, adding that in all his years of umpiring, he had never come across such an unusual situation involving a trophy presentation after a major cricket final.

He further said, “ I just know Mohsin Raza. I only saw it in the media. Yeh coat-pant waalo se zyada milta nahi main (I don't meet people who wear coats and pants). I have never seen a trophy not be given. In local cricket, yes, there must have been instances, but I can't recall.”

Chaudhary, who now runs a YouTube channel following his retirement from umpiring, also spoke about the much-discussed handshake controversy between India and Pakistan, shedding light on what really happened during that tense post-match moment.

He concluded, “ There's no such guideline. The handshake culture has come into existence since the last 15-16 years. When I started officiating in the Ranji trophy, there was no such practice. Yes, the captains used to shake hands but not all players. Today, the players shake hands with almost 70 people. This is just a gesture. It's up to you whether you want to or not.”

The drama surrounding the Asia Cup 2025 trophy shows no signs of ending anytime soon. Following India’s five-wicket victory over Pakistan in the final, ACC chairman Mohsin Naqvi seemed to take the silverware away, creating a major controversy. His actions have left fans and cricket officials divided over the rightful ownership of the trophy.

According to PTI, the trophy is currently being kept at the ACC headquarters. Despite India winning the tournament, Naqvi has reportedly issued strict instructions that the trophy should not be moved or handed over without his personal approval. His stance has only intensified the dispute, drawing widespread attention across cricketing circles.

Sources say the ACC is now in a delicate position, trying to maintain neutrality while ensuring the trophy reaches its rightful winners. The situation has sparked heated discussions among cricket administrators, fans, and former players, making the Asia Cup 2025 trophy saga one of the most talked-about controversies in recent cricket history.

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BCCI to Take Big and Bold Action Against Mohsin Naqvi:

The BCCI has announced that it will raise the issue of Mohsin Naqvi’s behaviour with the ICC. According to PTI, the board plans to seek censure against Naqvi and may push for his removal as ICC Director if necessary.

Earlier, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia emphasized that the Asia Cup trophy does not belong to Naqvi personally. He urged that the silverware should be returned to India immediately, reinforcing that the title rightfully belongs to the winning team. The board is determined to take all necessary steps to ensure that the trophy reaches its proper owners without further delay.

According to PTI, a source close to BCCI said, “ It remains to be seen what will be the long-term ramifications for the PCB or Naqvi because the BCCI is clear he (Naqvi) didn't have any right to insist on handing the trophy himself to the Indian team and refusing to send it to the BCCI, who were the official hosts of the event.”

The IND-PAK Controversial Saga in Asia Cup:

The eight-team Asia Cup ended on September 28 with India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, refusing to accept the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, Pakistan’s Interior Minister. The post-match ceremony was delayed by nearly an hour and ended abruptly, as neither India nor Naqvi changed their position.

India and Pakistan faced off three times in the Asia Cup, marking their first encounter since the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. Tensions between the two sides overshadowed much of the tournament, creating a highly charged and contentious atmosphere throughout.

The first incident happened on September 14, when Suryakumar Yadav’s team declined to shake hands with Pakistan. This sparked politically tense reactions from Pakistani players during the Super 4s match, including a heated exchange between Haris Rauf, Abhishek Sharma, and Shubman Gill.

Mohsin Naqvi’s Controversial Remarks:

Naqvi neglected his duties as ACC chairman, repeatedly posting political remarks against India on social media. Following the Asia Cup, an ACC meeting saw tensions rise between Naqvi and BCCI officials, including Rajeev Shukla and Ashish Shelar.

At first, Naqvi avoided congratulating India on its Asia Cup triumph, only doing so after Shelar’s insistence. He stayed silent on the trophy issue, and when Shelar and Shukla attempted to address it, Naqvi kept deflecting, refusing to engage on the matter.

As per standard procedure, the Asia Cup trophy was meant to be handed over to the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai. However, Naqvi insisted that India can only receive it if captain Suryakumar Yadav personally travels to Dubai to collect it from him.

Suryakumar Yadav, the Indian captain, after the Super 4 clash against Pakistan during the T20 Asia Cup 2025, felt that there is no more present rivalry between the two sides. His statement comes after their seven-wicket victory with 25 balls to spare at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, which propelled them to the tournament final. 

During a recent interaction, Sky continued to roast the opponent with the same statement, expressing his belief that the current team has failed to replicate the same success they had in the past. He addressed that it would be vital to continue the same legacy that the Blue Brigade has established.

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“You can tell me if there is any rivalry between India and Pakistan. I haven’t been part of this overall record. Since I arrived, their record hasn’t been made. Since I started to watch and play, the record hasn’t been made. I admit that they were strong in the past and used to play well, but you have to continue the success. India used to play well and is still doing well. Our legacy hasn’t gone down and is continuing.” Suryakumar Yadav expressed.

Watch: Suryakumar Yadav grills Pakistan with another statement on IND vs PAK rivalry

India defeated Pakistan in all three meetings during the Asia Cup, including the final, where Tilak Varma showed his patience in the match-winning knock to take them home despite their side losing three wickets inside the first four overs of the chase.

Suryakumar Yadav once again owned Pakistan On being asked about the overall INDvsPAK record.🔥

"I’ve never come across that record during my time playing. I haven’t seen them winning when I’ve played. That was a time when they used to play well and had a good team, but you also… pic.twitter.com/U19PQRFSdn

— 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12) October 9, 2025

“Standards and rivalry are the same. According to me, if two teams play 15-20 matches and if [head-to-head] it is 7-7 or 8-7, then that is called a rivalry. But 13-0, 10-1. I don't know what the stats are. But this is not a rivalry anymore. But yeah, I feel we played better cricket than them.” The Mumbai batter shed light.

India will now fly to Australia for the five-match T20I series before facing South Africa and New Zealand in a couple more T20I series at home by the end of the year, as they prepare themselves for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 in India and Sri Lanka.

Multiple players from the Indian Premier League franchise (IPL) Mumbai Indians (MI) donned the Indian cricket team jersey at the highest stage of cricket, including India's T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav. During a YouTube podcast, he credited Mumbai Indians for grooming multiple talents over the years who have done some remarkable jobs for the nation.

Yadav dragged MI into the discussion because of Tilak Varma. They were discussing Tilak Varma's Asia Cup 2025 final match-winning knock before mentioning the multi-time IPL-winning franchise. Who is Tilak, who batted with so much confidence and composure? In reply, Surya focused on his background, from which he groomed himself. Like Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, and Hardik Pandya, Tilak Varma also played for the Mumbai Indians.

For Yadav, the Mumbai-based franchise is the "Gurukul," where an emerging cricketer can polish his skills with methodical training and discipline. As Varma played multiple matches for MI, Surya claimed that the 22-year-old already knew how to handle pressure situations before the India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 Final match. 

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Mumbai Indians is the institute: Suryakumar Yadav 

"Before Team India, we played for the Mumbai Indians; it was like a Gurukul, an institute, for us. Mumbai Indians is the foundation where players are built. When we play for Mumbai Indians, we already feel the pressure, so when we play for India, we just try to replicate what we did for Mumbai Indians," Suryakumar Yadav said. 

Meanwhile, in the Asia Cup 2025 final, he scored 69 not out against 53 deliveries with three 4s and four 6s. India won the match by 5 wickets, chasing a target of 147 runs.

When a team wins or loses, there can be a few theories related to the team. Like the relation between the coach and the captain. As Team India emerged as the champion of the Asia Cup 2025, cricket fans are eager to know some behind-the-scenes stories that led the team to the glory.

In a YouTube podcast, Suryakumar Yadav, captain of India's T20I setup, revealed some of the fascinating behind-the-curtain stories. He also spoke about his relationship with the head coach, Gautam Gambhir, as well.

Yadav and Gambhir shared a long-time relationship together. When Suryakumar was playing for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Gambhir was his teammate. They shared the same dressing room for multiple years. So, there was natural understanding between them, which is now proved fruitful for Team India. 

Read More: 'Gauti bhai and I discussed...'- Suryakumar Yadav Reveals What Gautam Gambhir Said to Sanju Samson about Batting Order in Asia Cup 2025

Yadav talked about his bond with Gambhir 

During the podcast, the skipper claimed that their understanding is so good that their choices of first XI will be the same. As an example of their good relationship, Yadav stated that when he felt confused in the middle of a match, he used to look towards their dressing room area, where Gambhir sits. Through some gesture or action, Gambhir often suggests what to do. 

"Our relationship is like that between two brothers... During the Asia Cup 2025, there were multiple occasions when I was confused about what to do next. Then I used to look back, and Gauti Bhai instantly understood the situations, and through actions he suggested to me which bowler I should use next. To date, we share the same bond we used to have when we played together," Suryakumar Yadav said about his relationship with head coach Gautam Gambhir. 

Tilak Varma became the main hero for Team India in the final of the Asia Cup 2025. In the final match against Pakistan, the young middle-order batter played an unbeaten 69-run innings to ensure India's victory in the summit clash over the archrival. At the age of only 22, the amount of temperament and maturity he showed was remarkable. How did he play a match-winning knock under pressure?

During the latest discussion in a YouTube podcast, India's T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav revealed how the head coach of Team India, Gautam Gambhir, supported Tilak Varma during the run chase. Yadav said that the match was by then almost under their control. But the pressure was always there.

For a 22-year-old batter, performing in front of a huge crowd is not an easy task. Yadav claims that during the drinks break, Gautam Gambhir perhaps sent Tilak a message: remain until the end of the match. 

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Gambhir advised Tilak how to play 

"Tilak already prepared tha. Agar aap dekho, reverse sweep, switch hit unka favorite shot hain. Final mein unhone ekbar bhi wo shot nehi khela... Unko situation pata tha. Halaki jab pehla drink break hua, Gauti bhai (Gautam Gambhir) sayad gaye bhi the ander, unhone bhi bola hoga ki bas khara rahe ant tak (Tilak Varma was already prepared. If you noticed, during the innings he never played his favorite sweep shot, switch shot... He knew the situation very well. Still, during the first drinks break, Gautam Gambhir himself told him to stay on the wicket until the end)," Yadav said about Varma's batting and Gambhir's way of keeping his composure under pressure. 

In the Asia Cup 2025 final, the southpaw scored 69 not out against 53 deliveries with three 4s and four 6s. India won the match by 5 wickets, chasing a target of 147 runs.

Jitesh Sharma or Sanju Samson? That became one of the major questions among Indian cricket fans after the Asia Cup 2025 squad announcement. Indian cricket fans were also curious to see Sanju's batting position, as there were Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma for the opening slots. Everything started to clear as soon as India went to play their first match of the tournament; Sanju Samson was in the playing XI as a middle-order batsman.

For a top-order batsman, it was never an easy job for him to bat deep in the order. But how did the Indian team management decide to put Sanju in the first eleven as a middle-order batter? During a recent podcast, India's T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav shared some fascinating information about the formation of the team in the Asia Cup 2025.

Yadav claims that Samson was always in their plan for the tournament. How to utilize him—that was the question. The skipper said that during a net session, he and head coach Gautam Gambhir were observing Sanju's batting in the nets. Gambhir was already impressed by what the keeper-batter had done for the team ahead of the competition. Then Gambhir went to Samson to discuss his new batting role as a middle-order batsman, a challenging position to operate in. 

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Gautam Gambhir informed Samson about his new batting role

"Mera dimag mein ye kabhi nehi aya ki Sanju nehi khelega. First net session, mein aur Gauti bhai (Gautam Gambhir) net piche khare the. Unhone bola ki he has done so well in the last 10-15 T20Is (I never thought Sanju would not play. During our first net session of the tournament, I and Gautam Gambhir were standing behind the nets. Gambhir said that Sanju did very well in the last 10-15 T20Is," Suryakumar said.

After the discussion, Gambhir talked with the keeper-batter and assigned him the middle-order batting role, where a lot of uncertainty might work. But one particular thing Gambhir asked Samson impacted the game, said Surykumar Yadav. 

The left-handed batter of the Mumbai Indians, Tilak Varma, has been in incredible form during the final of the Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 against Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Coming at a tough position of 3/20 in four overs during the chase, the southpaw smashed an unbeaten 69 runs in 53 balls at a strike rate of 130.18 with the help of three boundaries and four over boundaries. 

A video has gone viral on social media from the Mumbai Indians franchise, where someone recalled that the batter that the crowd was shouting for was not from Mumbai during a game. In response, Varma stated that, although he had been in Mumbai, he was still part of the team.

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Varma has smashed 962 runs in 30 innings of the shortest format at an average of 53.44 and a strike rate of 149.14, with the help of four half-centuries and two centuries at the best score of unbeaten 120 runs. In 51 IPL innings, he clubbed 1499 runs at an average of 37.47 and a strike rate of 144.41 with eight fifties at the best score of unbeaten 84 runs.

Watch: Tilak Varma shows swag as Mumbai Indians post viral video

When Tilak walked into the middle during the Asia Cup 2025 final, he aimed to stand there in the middle, holding one end, besides making sure that the required run rate stays inside their territory. He played a sensational and balanced knock, which helped them get over the finishing line.

 

 

 

 

 

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During the last season of the IPL for the Mumbai Indians, the left-handed batter shouldered the responsibility several times. He smashed 343 runs in 13 innings at an average of 31.18 and a strike rate of around 140 with the help of two half-centuries at the best score of 59.

Tilak will look to break into the ODI side of the Indian team. Upon his return from the Asia Cup 2025, he featured in a couple of unofficial ODIs against Australia A for India A in Kanpur.

The Indian T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav, had a wonderful time in the shortest format as he won several bilateral series besides earning the Asia Cup 2025 trophy by beating Pakistan in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. His leadership on many occasions was excellent, including bringing different bowlers in tough periods.

During the CEAT Award-winning function in Mumbai, Suryakumar Yadav was asked to address his Asia Cup 2025 heroes. He calls Abhishek Sharma, the left-handed opening batter, Shera, as he was the leading run-getter of the campaign with 314 runs in seven innings. The Punjab-born had an average of 44.85 and a strike rate of 200 with three half-centuries to his name.

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Suryakumar addresses Tilak Verma as the wall. The left-handed batter was the fourth-highest run-getter of the competition with 213 runs in six innings at an average of 71 and a strike rate of 131.48 with one half-century. However, that unbeaten 69 came in the final when they lost three wickets inside four overs during the chase.

Watch: Suryakumar Yadav decodes Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in one word in viral video

In the same video, Suryakumar Yadav was asked to decode the T20 World Cup-winning captain, Rohit Sharma, as his big brother. They played with each other on the Mumbai side, besides featuring for the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL). They also shared the dressing room during the T20 World Cup 2024 winning campaign.

 

 

 

 

 

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Suryakumar has addressed Virat Kohli as the GOAT. The right-handed batter has already retired from the shortest and longest formats of the game. He finished after winning the T20 World Cup 2024 and ended with 1292 runs in the history of the World Cup in 33 innings at an average of nearly 59 with a strike rate of 128.81 with the help of 15 half-centuries at the best score of unbeaten 89 runs.

At the end of the interaction, Suryakumar calls Wankhede Stadium home. He has played all of his games from a young age at the same ground, along with the IPL. Sky didn’t have a great time with 72 runs in six innings at an average of 18.