Indian team members Shivam Dube and Tilak Varma rubbed salt into Pakistan’s wounds as they celebrated the Asia Cup 2025 victories with their family members using a fake and mock trophy. This is after ACC and PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi’s refusal to give the Asia Cup trophy to the Indian team after their rejection of receiving the medals and trophy from him on the stage.
India and Pakistan played thrice in the Asia Cup recently, and the Men in Blue triumphed in all three games, including the final that was played in Dubai on September 28. India registered a 7-wicket win in the group stage, a 6-wicket win in the Super Fours, and a 5-wicket win in the final over Pakistan.
However, there were hostilities between the two sides as Suryakumar Yadav, India’s captain, opted not to shake hands with Pakistan’s Salman Agha. This no-handshake policy was adopted by the Indian team as the tournament was played in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor by the Indian armed forces against Pakistan.
Pakistan players instigated the Indians by making jet-crashing gestures and gun-firing celebrations. Even Mohsin Naqvi, who is the interior minister of Pakistan, shared a video of Cristiano Ronaldo’s jet crashing celebration to mock India ahead of the Asia Cup final.
In the same vein, the Indian team didn’t shake hands with the Pakistani players before or after the matches. After winning the Asia Cup 2025, the Indian team refused to take the trophy and winners’ medals from Naqvi’s hands, who, angered by this, took the trophy and medals with him, reportedly to his hotel room, and has held them hostage since then, despite protests by the BCCI.
Meanwhile, both Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube celebrated their roles in the victory on social media with friends and family after returning home as victorious heroes for India's victory in the final, thanks to their vital late cooperation in the chase.
Tilak Varma made 69* in the final, taking India past the finish line, while Shivam Dube’s 33 calmed the jittery Indian nerves in the close game.
Shivam Dube shared a wholesome video on Instagram in which he took a small homemade trophy and lifted it alongside members of his family.
Similarly, Tilak Varma shared a reel on Instagram in which he celebrated in a raucous manner alongside some friends while pretending to lift a trophy.
