The Asia Cup 2025 final is still days away, no team has even qualified yet — but the controversy has already erupted. Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav has reportedly told the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) that if India wins, he will not receive the trophy from PCB Chairman and ACC Chief Mohsin Naqvi.
The drama stems from the recent no-handshake incident during the India–Pakistan clash, which has now snowballed into a full-blown row. According to Indian media, Yadav and the team management have informed ACC that Naqvi’s presence at the presentation ceremony is “unacceptable.”
This creates a big dilemma, as the ACC Chairman traditionally hands over the trophy to the winning side. With the final scheduled in Dubai on September 28, the issue has already cast a shadow over the tournament.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has doubled down on its stance, once again demanding the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft. Sources claim that if the ICC refuses, Pakistan is even considering boycotting the remaining matches. PCB has also slammed the ICC’s inquiry into Pycroft as “incomplete and biased,” saying key witnesses were never consulted.
The Asia Cup is now under massive pressure. After Sunday’s handshake snub, tensions between PCB, ICC, and India have only deepened.
Taking to social media, Mohsin Naqvi expressed disappointment:
“Politics should not be dragged into cricket. Sportsmanship is what defines the spirit of the game.”
With controversies piling up, the Asia Cup 2025 is turning into more drama off the field than action on it — and the coming days could decide its future.