Suryakumar Yadav: “My Trophy Is in the Dressing Room”

India clinched their record ninth Asia Cup title after beating Pakistan in the final, but the biggest talking point wasn’t the victory—it was the drama surrounding the trophy. In an unprecedented move, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) concluded the ceremony without handing over the trophy to the champions. The bizarre incident stunned the cricketing world.

Reacting to the controversy, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav said:
"My real trophy is in the dressing room. My teammates and support staff are my trophy."

The post-match presentation in Dubai on Sunday night was delayed by over 90 minutes. But when the ceremony finally began, the trophy was nowhere to be seen on the stage. Shockingly, the cup had been removed beforehand without any explanation, sparking outrage across cricket circles.

Ultimately, the Indian players celebrated by pretending to lift an imaginary trophy, smiling and acting out the moment together. Experts called the scene “rare” in the history of the game.

Speaking at the press conference, Suryakumar didn’t hide his disappointment:
"I’ve been playing and following cricket for years, but I’ve never seen anything like this. A team works so hard to win the trophy, and then they don’t even get it in their hands—it’s unbelievable. I think we deserved to have it, but I don’t want to say much more. For me, my real trophy is my 14 teammates and the support staff."

It wasn’t just the team trophy—there was bitterness around the individual awards too. Kuldeep Yadav, Abhishek Sharma, and Tilak Varma accepted their prizes but deliberately avoided receiving them from ACC president Mohsin Naqvi, choosing other officials instead. On the other hand, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha accepted the runners-up cheque from Naqvi and BCB president Aminul Islam Bulbul.

Mohsin Naqvi, who is both Pakistan’s Interior Minister and PCB chairman, has been at the center of the controversy. Reports suggest that the Indian team had decided beforehand not to accept the trophy directly from him due to political reasons.

BCCI secretary Debajit Saikia told ANI:
"It was our decision not to take the trophy from Mr. Naqvi’s hands. But that does not mean he would take away the trophy and medals altogether. This is extremely unfortunate. We hope the trophy and medals are sent back to India soon."

India’s record ninth Asia Cup win over Pakistan should have been a moment of pure joy, but the trophy fiasco overshadowed the celebration. Fans on social media have been venting their anger—some calling it a “dark day in cricket history,” others claiming the sport once again became a victim of politics.