India captain Suryakumar Yadav announced he would donate all his Asia Cup 2025 match fees to the Indian Army after leading the Men in Blue to a five-wicket victory over Pakistan in Dubai, securing their ninth continental crown. “I personally want to give all my match fees from this tournament (from all the games) to the Indian army,” Suryakumar Yadav said at the post-match press conference.
However, the triumph was overshadowed by extraordinary scenes at the presentation ceremony, where India declined to accept the trophy from Pakistan’s interior minister and Asian Cricket Council president, Mohsin Naqvi.
There was high drama after India’s thrilling win against their archrivals on Sunday, with the champions ultimately celebrating their success without the silverware. The ceremony began only after a prolonged delay, during which individual award winners were recognised. Despite India’s refusal to accept the trophy from him, Naqvi remained on stage, and the trophy was never handed over – an unprecedented occurrence on a cricket field.
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India were prepared to receive the trophy from Emirates Cricket Board vice-chairman Khalid Al Zarooni, who was also present on stage, but Naqvi did not permit this.
Speaking to the press, Suryakumar Yadav said, “This is one thing which I have never seen since I have started playing cricket, since I have started following cricket, that a champion team is denied a trophy. That too a hard-earned one, it’s not like we got it easily. It was a hard-earned tournament. We were here since the 4th, played two back-to-back good games. I feel we deserved it. I can’t say anything more, I think I have summed it up really well, I can’t say anything more about it.”
He went on to add, “If you tell me about the trophies, my trophies are sitting in the dressing room, all the 14 guys, all the support staff – those are the real trophies who I have been a big fan of throughout this journey of the Asia Cup. Those are the real trophies, the real moments which I am taking back as lovely memories and which will stay forever.”
Soon after India’s five-wicket victory, the Board of Control for Cricket in India announced a reward of Rs 21 crore for the players and support staff.
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