India’s stand-in skipper Suryakumar Yadav has reportedly told team officials he would prefer not to receive the Asia Cup 2025 winners’ trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi — who also heads Pakistan’s cricket board — if India win the final. The unconfirmed reports have stirred debate about politics creeping into a high-profile sporting event.
Background of the Row
According to several Indian news outlets, Yadav’s stance follows weeks of tension between the two cricket boards. The issue gained visibility after the so-called “handshake row,” where Indian players refrained from greeting Pakistan’s squad in the usual manner. Some Indian officials cited security concerns and public anger after a terror attack in Pahalgam as the reason for the altered protocol.
Who Is Mohsin Naqvi?
Mohsin Naqvi currently holds dual roles: he is both Pakistan’s caretaker Interior Minister and chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, and, since this year, President of the ACC. In that capacity he is expected to present the trophy to the winning captain at the Asia Cup final.
What the Reports Say
Media reports quoting unnamed sources suggest Yadav has communicated to the ACC that, should India lift the trophy, he will not accept it directly from Naqvi. No formal statement has been issued by Yadav or the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), leaving the story unverified but widely discussed.
Potential Ceremony Changes
If the Indian side does prevail, tournament organisers may need to alter the presentation protocol — for example, assigning another ACC official to hand over the trophy — to avoid an embarrassing standoff on live television. Neither the ACC nor the PCB has publicly commented on any such contingency.
Reaction and Implications
Sports analysts point out that trophy presentations are normally ceremonial and apolitical. A refusal by a winning captain to accept the cup from the ACC President would be unprecedented in modern cricket and could deepen existing rifts between the two boards. Fans online are divided, with some praising Yadav for a principled stance and others warning that the gesture risks politicising the game further.
Conclusion
Until an official statement emerges, Suryakumar Yadav’s reported position remains speculative. Yet even the possibility highlights how diplomatic and security tensions between India and Pakistan continue to shadow cricketing ties. All eyes will be on the Asia Cup final not only for the result but also for how the trophy ceremony unfolds.
