India’s thrilling last-over victory against Pakistan in the Asia Cup final should have ended in celebration. Instead, the post-match ceremony descended into controversy, with no trophy presentation taking place. The delay, stretching for more than an hour, stemmed from the refusal of Indian players to accept the Asia Cup trophy from Pakistan Cricket Board chairman and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.
According to reports, the Indian side had conveyed its preference to receive the trophy from Emirates Cricket Board vice-chairman Khalid Al Zarooni. However, Naqvi insisted he would present the award himself. With both sides unwilling to back down, officials eventually removed the trophy altogether. While standout players such as Tilak Varma and Abhishek Sharma received individual honors, the champions departed without the traditional team presentation.
Naqvi had drawn sharp criticism earlier in the tournament for using social media to inject political undertones into cricket. He reposted images of Pakistani players wearing flight suits, backed by fighter jets, under the caption “Final Day.” At another point, he shared a Cristiano Ronaldo meme depicting a crashing plane.
Interior Minister of Pakistan Mohsin Naqvi was on stage to present Asia Cup Trophy to Team India.
— Incognito (@Incognito_qfs) September 28, 2025
And Indian Team players were busy on their phones. Ignored him so hard. This is brutal. 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/8jDT1Vq11k
Outrage After Mohsin Naqvi’s War-Laced Asia Cup Post
Tensions escalated after Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the Indian team on their win. Naqvi fired back with a pointed post on X, declaring, “If war was your measure of pride, history already records your humiliating defeats at Pakistan’s hands.”
The statement triggered outrage among fans, with many accusing Naqvi of turning a sporting contest into a political battlefield. In the stadium, Indian supporters booed Naqvi as he approached the presentation stage, chanting “Bharat Mata Ki Jai.”
BCCI Explains Boycott
BCCI secretary Saikia confirmed that the team’s decision was deliberate. “We had already communicated that we would not accept the Asia Cup trophy from Mr. Mohsin Naqvi. He is not just the ACC chairman but also Pakistan’s Interior Minister. For us, it is not possible to take an award from someone representing a country openly hostile to India,” he told Network18.
Naqvi had reportedly created friction earlier in the tournament as well, pressuring PCB to allege bias by match referee Andy Pycroft and even seeking a ban on Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav for dedicating a win to India’s armed forces.
Who Is Mohsin Naqvi?
Born on October 28, 1978, in Lahore, Naqvi completed his schooling at Crescent Model Higher Secondary School before graduating from Government College University, Lahore. He later earned a degree in journalism from Ohio University, USA.
Naqvi began his career with an internship at CNN before founding Pakistan’s City Media Group, which has grown into a major media enterprise. He entered politics in 2023 and briefly served as Caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab. His tenure was marked by controversy, including allegations of election rigging in Rawalpindi during Pakistan’s February 2024 general elections.
He was named to the PCB governing board by caretaker Prime Minister AnwaarulHaqKakar on January 22, 2024, and subsequently elected unopposed as the 37th chairman on February 6, 2024. His appointment faced some criticism, as he had previously served as the caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab before joining the PCB.
Family And 'Dubai Leaks'
Naqvi’s wife, Warda Ashraf, was named in the “Dubai Leaks,” which exposed offshore property ownership of Pakistanis. The leak revealed more than 23,000 properties linked to Pakistani nationals in Dubai up to early 2022, further drawing attention to Naqvi’s personal life.
From Cristiano Ronaldo memes to fighter-jet imagery, Naqvi has repeatedly courted controversy during the Asia Cup. Pakistani cricketers mirrored these antics, with HarisRauf and Sahibzada Farhan imitating fighter-plane and gun gestures on the field, provoking sharp reactions from fans and commentators.