India won the Asia Cup 2025 after a final showdown with Pakistan that went down to the last over. A thriller throughout, momentum swung from one side to the other during those crucial 50-odd overs, but in the end it was India who crossed the finish line in the very last over by five wickets.
The Indian players were agin-a-pin-the-ceiling with passionate celebrations, whereas the Pakistan players were breaking in hearts. However, the actual drama unfolded post the match when the Indian players refused to accept the trophy from the PCB chairman cum ACC chief Mohsin Naqvi.
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India Continues Strict Policy Toward Pakistan After Asia Cup Win
The gesture was interpreted as India’s response to the Pahalgam terror attack and the consequent hostilities between the two countries in May 2025. There was tension all throughout during the tournament between the players of both sides as well as their boards. It began with the Indian players refusing to shake hands with the Pakistan players after the group stage match; subsequently, the PCB lodged a formal complaint against the match referee Andy Pycroft. They demanded the removal of the match referee, but it was rejected.
The Indian captain, Suryakumar, did not shy away from mentioning Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam terror attack during his post-match comments. Some Pakistani players made alleged political gestures down on the pitch, which did not go well with the Indian camp, leading to a fine being imposed on both the Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav and Haris Rauf.
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India, however, dominated on the field, winning all three matches and, vice versa, with the final being a close contest. India was chasing a target of 147 after electing to bowl first, and after some jitters in an early phase, they managed to pull off a win thanks mainly to an unbeaten 69 from Tilak Varma.
The win and the refusal to accept the trophy from the PCB chairman remotely speak about India’s cricketing supremacy and terror intolerance.
