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Asia Cup 2025: India, Pakistan cricket teams spar

Richard Connor with AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters
September 29, 2025

India won the Asia Cup Twenty20 final by five wickets in Dubai on Sunday, but refused to collect the championship trophy from Pakistan's interior minister.

An official removes the winners' trophy from the presentation area after India won the Asia Cup cricket final against Pakistan
Pakistan captain Salman Agha said India had 'disrespected cricket,' but his Indian counterpart Suryakumar Yadav complained his side 'were denied the trophy'Image: Altaf Qadri/AP Photo/picture alliance

India's cricket team won cricket's Asia Cup on Sunday with a victory over archrival Pakistan in a contest overshadowed by national political rivalry.

The Indian players refused to accept the trophy from Asian Cricket Council president Mohsin Naqvi, who is also Pakistan's interior minister. It was the latest in a series of unusual incidents during the Twenty20 tournament.

What happened when India played Pakistan?

Emotions had been running high between the two sides, after the nuclear-armed neighbors fought a brief military conflict earlier this year.

India beat Pakistan by five wickets in the final at the Dubai International Stadium. But even before the match, India's players refused to shake hands with their opponents for a third consecutive Asia Cup match. 

Pakistan had threatened to quit the tournament over the "handshake controversy," but ultimately did not.

After the match, the presentation ceremony was delayed for more than an hour on Sunday and then stopped just before the winner's trophy could be awarded, after India declined to take part.

India clinched victory against Pakistan by five wickets in the final at the Dubai International StadiumImage: Altaf Qadri/AP Photo/picture alliance

Officials called it a "departure from tradition" as Naqvi was left waiting on stage.

What did Pakistan and India say about the trophy award ceremony?

While Pakistan captain Salman Agha said India had "disrespected cricket," his Indian counterpart Suryakumar Yadav complained his side "were denied the trophy," given the circumstances.

Suryakumar, later pictured picking up an imaginary trophy celebration, said all that mattered was that India were champions once again.

"It appeared on the big screen that India is Asia Cup 2025 champion. It was a great journey and moment for us as a team."

Both countries declared victory in the four-day conflict in May when India launched Operation Sindoor. The fighting killed more than 70 people amid missile, drone and artillery fire.

Edited by: Karl Sexton

Richard Connor Reporting on stories from around the world, with a particular focus on Europe — especially Germany.
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