Dubai, Sep 29 (UNI) In an unprecedented scene in international cricket, India’s Asia Cup-winning team last night refused to accept the winners’ trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president and Pakistan Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, but captain Suryakumar Yadav clarified there were no instructions from the BCCI and the call was taken solely by the players.
“No one told us to do this. We took this call on the ground,” Suryakumar said, distancing the decision from any official communication between the BCCI and the ACC. “This is one thing which I have never seen since I started playing and following cricket — that a champion team is denied a trophy. That too a hard-earned one, not something we got easily.”
The Pakistan Minister Naqvi had allegedly walked away with the winners trophy and the medals.
The Indian team’s refusal led to a prolonged delay in the post-match presentation at the Dubai International Stadium, with India ending the night without the traditional silverware despite defeating Pakistan by five wickets to clinch their ninth Asia Cup title.
Despite the absence of the trophy, the Indian players celebrated on the podium. Suryakumar mimed lifting an invisible cup, with teammates joining in and drawing loud cheers from fans. “My trophies are the 14 players and support staff in the dressing room. Those are the real trophies and the real memories I take back,” he said.
Suryakumar described the Asia Cup campaign, in which India remained unbeaten, as “a great journey and campaign.” He said the team had deliberately ignored outside distractions. “The boys stepped up whenever needed. Those are the small trophies we won going into the World Cup year,” he remarked.
The skipper also announced he would donate his entire Asia Cup match fees to the Indian Armed Forces. “I don’t know if people will call it controversial, but for me, it’s the right thing to do,” he said.
India thus celebrated a title without its crowning image, lifting an invisible trophy instead of the official one.
