The Asia Cup 2025 concluded with controversy as Team India refused to receive their winners' trophy and medallions from ACC and PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi, who is also Pakistan’s Interior Minister and posted anti-India sentiments on social media throughout the tournament.
Furious with India’s stance, Naqvi took the silverware and medals to his hotel room. After BCCI’s protest, the PCB boss has reportedly said that if India wants the trophy and medals, skipper Suryakumar Yadav can collect them from his ACC office in Dubai.
However, the Indian board has reportedly denied this condition and is planning to lodge an official complaint with the ICC.
Reacting to the episode, former Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Yousuf has expressed support for Mohsin Naqvi’s actions while criticising India's decision to boycott the presentation.
"What Chairman Sir (Mohsin Naqvi) is doing is absolutely right. He has taken the correct stand. India should have taken the trophy at that moment. According to ACC and ICC rules, he was standing there as ACC chief, and the trophy should have been handed through his hands only," Yousuf said on Samaa TV.
Yousuf accused the Indian team of playing theatrics at the ground instead of taking the Asia Cup trophy when the moment came.
"You didn’t take it at that moment, so what’s the hurry now? You should have gone and collected it from his office if you remembered that you had to take the trophy. At the ground, you were busy making your films. I said it that day too—they are not coming out of the filmy world. This is sports, this is cricket; movies won’t be playing here. In movies, there are retakes and all, but becoming a hero in movies is a different thing. You are playing a genuine sport here, and now you are saying you want the trophy," he added.
Yousuf backed the stand Naqvi has taken for Pakistan's respect in the Asia Cup trophy controversy.
"Whatever Naqvi said in the meeting is right—that there won’t be any trophy-related talk here. The stance the chairman has taken, we support him. Whatever he is doing for the respect of Pakistan, he is doing right, and we are with him," he remarked.
