Asia Cup 2025 Final: India lifts Ninth Title after thrilling Victory over Pakistan, But Trophy Ceremony ends in unprecedented controversy

In a tense encounter at Dubai International Stadium, India successfully chased down a modest target of 147 runs with just two balls to spare, clinching their record-extending ninth Asia Cup title in a match that kept fans on the edge until the final moments.

Pakistan's Dramatic Collapse

Pakistan, after being put into bat first, appeared headed for a commanding total when openers Sahibzada Farhan (57) and Fakhar Zaman (46) propelled them to a strong position of 113/1 in just 12.4 overs. However, what followed was one of the most spectacular batting collapses in recent memory, as Pakistan lost their last nine wickets for just 33 runs to be skittled out for 146 in 19.1 overs.

The collapse was engineered primarily by India's spin trio:

- Kuldeep Yadav claimed 4 wickets, including three in a single over

- Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy supported with 2 wickets each

- Jasprit Bumrah provided crucial breakthroughs with his 2/25

India's Nervy Chase

India's chase began disastrously with early wickets of Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Shubman Gill falling for single digits inside the powerplay, reducing them to 20/3 at one stage. The match seemed to slipping away until Tilak Varma played what many are calling a career-defining innings.

Varma first steadied the innings with a 46-run partnership with Sanju Samson, and then sealed the victory with an unbroken 64-run stand with Shivam Dube, who contributed a quickfire 33 off just 22 balls. The victory was finally sealed when Rinku Singh hit the winning boundary off the first ball he faced in the entire tournament.

Post-Match Trophy Controversy

What should have been a celebratory trophy presentation turned into an unprecedented controversy when the Indian team refused to accept the winner's trophy from Asia Cricket Council (ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as the PCB chairman and Pakistan's Interior Minister.

Timeline of Events

The post-match ceremony took a dramatic turn with the following sequence of events:

1. Delayed Presentation: The ceremony was delayed by over an hour after Pakistan players initially went straight to their dressing room.

2. India's Refusal: Indian team refused to accept the trophy from Naqvi due to his dual role in PCB and Pakistani government.

3. Rejected Compromise: India's request to receive the trophy from ECB vice-chairman Khalid Al Zarooni was turned down.

4. Trophy Removal: Naqvi ordered the Asia Cup trophy removed when India remained firm.

5. Ceremony Conclusion: The presentation concluded with Pakistan receiving runners-up medals, while India's awards went uncollected.

Reactions and Responses

Indian Perspective

Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav expressed his dismay: "I think this is one thing I have never seen. Since I started playing and following cricket, a champion team being denied a trophy. That too a hard-earned one". He emphasized that while the physical trophy was denied, the "real trophies" were his 14 teammates and support staff.

In a heartfelt gesture, Yadav announced he would donate his entire match fees from the tournament to support the Indian Armed Forces and families of victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.

Pakistani Reaction

Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha accused India of "disrespecting the game": "What happened in this tournament is quite disappointing. They think by not shaking hands they are disrespecting us. No. That is a disrespect to cricket".

Cricket Community Divided

- Shoaib Malik (Former Pakistan captain): "They worked so hard. Why did they do all that hard work? To win the Asia Cup trophy... This will haunt them".

- Bazid Khan (Former Pakistan cricketer): "The very purpose of the Asia Cup is for all Asian teams to play together... But now that purpose has been somewhat diluted".

- Kamran Akmal (Former Pakistan player): Suggested PCB should announce they will never play against India and called for a neutral committee to decide on appropriate action.

This victory marked India's third consecutive win over Pakistan in the span of 15 days during the 2025 Asia Cup, with India having dominated both previous encounters. Prime Minister Narendra Modi notably compared this hat-trick of victories to 'Operation Sindoor'.

Abhishek Sharma was named Player of the Tournament for his exceptional batting throughout the competition, where he scored 314 runs in seven innings at a staggering strike rate of 200, including 19 sixes - the most by any batter.

While the cricketing achievement of India's ninth Asia Cup title - particularly their remarkable comeback in the final - will be remembered for years, the off-field controversies have raised serious questions about the future of cricket relations between the neighboring nations. The tournament that began with handshake refusals concluded with trophy refusal, highlighting how political tensions continue to impact sporting contests between these two cricketing giants.

The Indian team returns home with the satisfaction of an undefeated campaign and another continental trophy, even if they weren't physically able to lift it, while cricket administrators face pressing questions about how to preserve the spirit of the game amid growing geopolitical tensions.