India's five-wicket victory against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 final was supposed to be a joyous moment, but the post-match drama drew a storm. The president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and Pakistan minister Mohsin Naqvi declined to take the traditional step, leaving India trophy-less and medal-less on the presentation dais. Trophy Ceremony Blocked The controversy started when India indicated they would refuse the trophy from Naqvi due to his position as a representative of Pakistan's government. ACC officials proposed Emirates Cricket Board vice-chairman Khalid Al Zarooni take over the handing of the awards, but Naqvi did not agree. This stand-off dragged on for nearly an hour. Finally, the trophy was removed quietly by the organisers, and the team never got the chance to celebrate on stage. Only individual players like Tilak Varma and Abhishek Sharma were honoured for their personal performances. Also Read | BCCI to Reward Team India with 8 Times More Money Than ACC After Asia Cup Win Naqvi’s Remarks Spark Outrage The controversy grew further when Naqvi responded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s congratulatory post on India’s win with a harsh message. He wrote: “If war was your measure of pride, history already records your humiliating defeats at Pakistan’s hands. No cricket match can rewrite that truth. Dragging war into sport only exposes desperation and disgraces the very spirit of the game” Image Source: X/Twitter Fans and critics criticized Naqvi for injecting politics into cricket and offending the champions. Also Read | Operation Sindoor on the game field: India PM congratulates team India after Asic Cup win Additional Tensions Between Teams The event occurred after India had already expressed their discontent with Pakistan throughout the tournament. The Indian players shunned handshakes with Pakistani team members and even skipped the pre-toss photoshoot. There are also reports that Naqvi insisted that the ICC act against Suryakumar Yadav for backing the Indian Army following the Pahalgam terror attack. India's winning streak and ninth Asia Cup crown were records, but the evening will be remembered more for the drama than for the cricket.