‘Doesn’t mean Pakistan won the trophy’- Rahul Tewatia reacts to Mohsin Naqvi taking away Asia Cup trophy despite India winning

Gujarat Titans (GT) all-rounder Rahul Tewatia has reacted to the controversy involving Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi, who reportedly refused to hand over the Asia Cup 2025 trophy to the Indian team. India had defeated Pakistan in the tournament final on Sunday, September 28.

Advertisment

According to reports, the Indian players declined to accept the trophy from Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s Interior Minister and played a key role in Operation Sindoor. In response, Naqvi allegedly left the stadium with the trophy still in his possession.

The Men in Blue also avoided shaking hands with the Pakistani players throughout the tournament — from the group stage to the Super Fours — citing strained diplomatic relations in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack.

Even during the toss of the final, both India captain Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha refrained from initiating a handshake, further heightening tensions between the two sides.

"They didn't give us the trophy, that’s their headache, India won the final”- Rahul Tewatia

The Indian cricket team declined to receive the trophy from ACC Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also holds the positions of Pakistan’s Interior Minister and PCB chief. Instead, the Men in Blue chose to celebrate their historic triumph, leaving Pakistan to face the embarrassment of an unpresented trophy. 

Indian all-rounder Rahul Tewatia remarked that the team was unfazed by the situation, stressing that the victory itself mattered more than the silverware.

Advertisment

“As far as the trophy is concerned, based on what we heard and saw, we did not get the trophy. Our players and management were waiting. We found out that the trophy wasn’t given. The players were made to wait for a long time, and the trophy was taken back. They went to play cricket and won the final. In history, the name of the person who won the final is often recorded, regardless of whether the trophy was awarded or not. They did not give us the trophy. That’s their headache. India won the final. By taking the trophy back, the Pakistan team has not won it,” Tewatia told ANI.

“It was the team's and the management's decision not to do the handshake. Regardless of the circumstances, as an Indian, we should support that decision. We shouldn't think differently about the team's and management's decision. They made the best decision at that time,” he added.

The incident erupted following an ACC meeting, when BCCI officials expressed displeasure with Naqvi's handling of the trophy ceremony. Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Indonesia allegedly supported India's stand, while Naqvi insisted on personally collecting the trophy.

Stay updated with the latest cricket news, match insights, and exclusive updates at Sky247 India and download the Sky247 app to start betting today!