India Beat Pakistan by 5 Wickets, Refuse Asia Cup Trophy

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UPDATED :
Bengaluru, India | Sep 29, 2025, 10:46 IST
5 Min read

Dubai, Sunday 28th September 2025 — In a dramatic and controversial finish to the Asia Cup 2025, India defeated Pakistan by five wickets in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium to claim their ninth Asia Cup title. The match, however, was overshadowed by a heated standoff during the post-match presentation when the Indian side refused to accept the trophy or medals from Mohsin Naqvi, who serves simultaneously as Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman. The presentation was delayed for over an hour and ultimately wound up without a formal handing over of the trophies.

Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube Resurrect India’s Chase

India’s victory was built around a resilient batting recovery after a disastrous start. In the face of early casualties—Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Shubman Gill all dismissed within the powerplay—Tilak Varma (unbeaten 69 off 53 balls) and Shivam Dube (33) shared a vital 60-run partnership that steadied the innings and guided India home with two balls to spare. Rinku Singh hit the winning runs in the nerve-wracking finish

The chase wasn’t straightforward.

Early wickets triggered fears of collapse, but Varma remained composed under pressure, managing strike rotation, boundaries, and handling the spinning attack with poise. Earlier, he had built a substantial fourth-wicket stand of 57 runs in 50 balls with Sanju Samson, which had already begun to steady the innings.

Pakistan Collapse After Promising Star

Pakistan had appeared on track after a strong opening by Sahibzada Farhan (57 off 38) and a 46 from Fakhar Zaman. At one stage, the score read 113/1, but the lower and middle order imploded, losing 9 wickets for just 33 runs. The final total was 146 all out in 19.1 overs.

Kuldeep Yadav was central to Pakistan’s collapse, claiming 4 wickets and decimating their middle and lower order. Support came from Jasprit Bumrah (2/25), Varun Chakravarthy (2/30), and Axar Patel (2/26), who exploited the pressure with disciplined lines and variations.

In the Pakistan innings, Saim Ayub (14) was the only other batter to breach double figures. The tail faltered under tight pressure and sharp spin bowling.

Team Selection & Pre-match Adjustments

India encountered a pre-match setback when Hardik Pandya was deemed unfit due to a niggle and was replaced by Rinku Singh. The Indian side also made bowling changes, reintroducing Jasprit Bumrah and Shivam Dube while leaving out Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh. Pakistan fielded the same playing XI that had defeated Bangladesh in the preceding match.

This final marked the third meeting between these two sides within 15 days of the tournament. India had already asserted dominance, winning the group stage encounter by seven wickets and the Super 4 clash by six wickets.

Trophy Presentation Controversy

Despite India’s decisive win, the spotlight quickly turned to the unprecedented refusal by Indian players to accept the trophy or medals from Mohsin Naqvi. The crux of the issue lies in Naqvi’s dual role as ACC President and PCB Chairman (and also a political figure as Pakistan’s Interior Minister). The Indian contingent argued that it would be inappropriate to accept awards from someone so politically entwined with the opposing side.

The presentation was delayed by over an hour as discussions and protests ensued. The ACC chief was insistent on remaining the presenter, but India declined. Ultimately, the ceremony was wound up without any formal awarding of the trophy or medals.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) later issued a strong protest, accusing Naqvi of removing the trophy and medals and demanding accountability. Some reports claim the trophies and medals were taken away to his hotel.

From the Pakistan/ACC side, Naqvi criticized India for refusing the handshake and accused them of departing from cricketing norms. The standoff highlights how geopolitical tensions continue to intertwine with cricket, particularly in high-stakes India–Pakistan encounters.

Impact & Aftermath

India’s win extends their dominance in Asia Cup cricket, marking a record ninth continental crown. This victory also makes India unbeaten in all three matches against Pakistan in this edition—underscoring their stronger consistency in key moments.

From a records perspective, Tilak Varma was adjudged Player of the Match, while Kuldeep Yadav earned acclaim for his match-altering four-wicket haul. The seamless execution of bowling plans under pressure underlines India’s tactical discipline.

For Pakistan, the final will be a painful reminder of how a seemingly solid foundation can crumble under relentless pressure. Their top order laid the groundwork, but the lack of depth and inability to handle India’s spin and variations under duress proved costly.

Looking ahead, India must now navigate the administrative fallout stemming from the trophy controversy. The BCCI’s protest places pressure on the ACC and raises questions about neutrality in cricket governance. As for the team, they will aim to carry this confidence into future tournaments. Pakistan, on the other hand, will reflect on defensive strategies, consistency under pressure, and the mental demands in crunch matches.

This Asia Cup Final thus delivered on the field drama and produced off-field controversy—underscoring that cricket between these two nations remains about much more than just runs and wickets.

This Asia Cup 2025 Final news report is not intended to defame, criticise, or undermine any player, coach, or team. It is based on verified match statistics, expert insights, and public opinion.

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