DUBAI: The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief, Mohsin Naqvi, criticised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for linking India’s Asia Cup final victory over Pakistan to military conflict, warning that “dragging war into sports” undermines the spirit of the game.
Furthermore, following Sunday’s final, Modi congratulated the Indian team, showing the win as an extension of “Operation Sindoor,” a reference to India’s military campaign during the four-day conflict with Pakistan in May.
In this sense, the Naqvi responded strongly, calling the statements an indication of “desperation.”
He said, “If war was your measure of pride, history already records your humiliating defeats at Pakistan’s hands.
Moreover, no cricket match can rewrite that truth. Dragging war into sport only disgraces the spirit of the game.”
In this regard, the tensions escalated further when the Indian cricket team refused to collect their winners’ trophy from the ACC chief during the post-match ceremony.
If war was your measure of pride, history already records your humiliating defeats at Pakistan’s hands. No cricket match can rewrite that truth. Dragging war into sport only exposes desperation and disgraces the very spirit of the game https://t.co/lqiUATm3wX
— Mohsin Naqvi (@MohsinnaqviC42) September 29, 2025
The broadcaster Simon Doull confirmed on air that the team had declined to receive their awards. The move indicated a rare and highly unusual development in cricketing history between the two rivals.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced that the national team had dedicated its Asia Cup final match fees to civilians killed during the May 7 Indian attack on Pakistan.
“The Pakistan Cricket Team has dedicated its Asia Cup final match fees to the innocent victims martyred in the May 7 attack, including children,” the PCB said in a statement.
Pakistan captain Salman Agha showed disappointment, saying that India’s conduct had “disrespected cricket.” He told reporters,
“What happened in this tournament is very disappointing. If they think they disrespected us, I say they disrespected cricket. A good team doesn’t do what they did.”
On the other hand, Indian batsman Surya Kumar Yadav, who earlier pledged his match fee to victims on the Indian side, defended the team’s stance, suggesting the decision was made collectively.
Also Read: Sportsmanship questions arise as India bypasses Trophy ritual
The Asia Cup was the first cricket series between the two nuclear-armed neighbours since the brief but intense military escalation in May. The conflict, triggered by Indian airstrikes in Pakistan following the Pehalgam attack in occupied Kashmir, deepened mistrust between the two sides.
