Post-match chaos mars India's Asia Cup victory over Pakistan in Dubai

India's dramatic five-wicket victory over Pakistan in the T20 Asia Cup final, clinched with just two balls to spare on 28 September, was overshadowed by a series of odd and farcical post-match incidents at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. 

Tilak Varma's unbeaten 69 steered India to chase down 146, marking their ninth Asia Cup title and first against Pakistan in the final since 1984. However, the celebrations turned chaotic as Indian players refused handshakes, rejected the trophy from PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi and resorted to selfies and memes, while Naqvi allegedly fled with the silverware.

This awkward culmination to a fractious tournament highlighted deep-seated tensions, with many Indians criticising the decision to play Pakistan amid ongoing boycott calls.

Tense no-handshake standoff

As the match concluded, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav and his team once again snubbed the customary post-match handshake with Pakistan players, a gesture repeated from their group-stage encounter on 14 September. Pakistan captain Babar Azam extended his hand, but Yadav turned away, dedicating the win to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. 

The Pakistani team stood awkwardly in a huddle, waiting for over five minutes before trudging off, with coach Mike Hesson later calling it "disappointing" and lodging a protest.

The snub, captured on live broadcast, sparked immediate backlash on social media, with #NoHandshake trending globally. One X user posted a video of the empty field, quipping: "India wins the match, Pakistan wins the awkward silence award." The Pakistani players appeared visibly frustrated, with Azam gesturing animatedly to the officials before leaving. This marked the third such incident in the tournament, further amplifying the off-field drama that had overshadowed the cricketing action.

Farcical trophy denial and Naqvi's exit

The presentation ceremony descended into farce when Naqvi, also ACC president, approached to hand over the trophy, only for the Indian team to refuse, citing "solidarity with martyrs." In a bizarre turn, Naqvi allegedly "ran away" with the cup and medals, storming off the stage amid confusion. Stadium officials scrambled for over an hour, with the empty podium becoming meme fodder as broadcasters filled airtime with replays.

Indian players, denied the physical trophy, celebrated on the field with selfies, emojis and mock presentations using water bottles as stand-ins. Yadav posed with an imaginary cup, while teammates shared memes of Naqvi "stealing" the silverware. The BCCI later claimed the team was "denied" the trophy, vowing to protest at the ICC conference. Naqvi's abrupt departure, captured on fan videos, showed him clutching the trophy while being escorted out, prompting laughter and boos from the stands.

Awkward moments throughout the tournament

The final's drama capped a tournament riddled with awkwardness. In the group stage on 14 September, India's no-handshake after a seven-wicket win led to Pakistan lodging a complaint against referee Andy Pycroft, which the ICC rejected. Pakistan's TV panellists escalated tensions by suggesting "firing bullets" to stop India, sparking outrage. During the Super Fours, a coin toss refusal by Yadav added to the friction, with Azam protesting on the field.

The semi-finals saw minor scuffles in the stands between fans, with security intervening amid chants echoing the border tensions. The final itself featured delayed starts due to "security checks," and an odd moment when a Pakistani fan's banner reading "We Miss You, Kashmir" was confiscated.

Background to Indian opposition to playing Pakistan

The no-handshake and trophy snub stem from deep-rooted Indian opposition to cricketing ties with Pakistan, intensified by cross-border terrorism. Following the 2008 Mumbai attacks by Lashkar-e-Taiba, India suspended bilateral series, limiting encounters to multi-nation events. 

The recent Pahalgam attack, killing 12 civilians, reignited boycott calls from opposition parties like Congress, labelling it an "insult" to martyrs. Many Indians argue that gestures like refusing handshakes or trophies from Pakistani officials are "petty" and fail to rectify the "wrong" of engaging a "terrorist-sponsoring" nation. X posts reflected this, with one user stating: "No handshake doesn't erase playing them—boycott fully."

Sorry you cannot get away with this equivalence with such ease. Don’t raise the convenience and costs argument. India boycotted apartheid South Africa for years in games. I can bet my last piece of dhokla that if Congress had done what u permitted your bestie’s son to do,… pic.twitter.com/ZUgnpvmYiz

— sanjoy ghose (@advsanjoy) September 29, 2025

Reactions from players and officials

Pakistan's Azam called the handshake refusal "disrespectful to cricket," while Yadav defended it as a sign of solidarity with the victims. 

Naqvi's trophy exit drew ridicule, with Indian fans meme-ing him as a "trophy thief." BCCI secretary Jay Shah vowed "strong action" at ICC, terming it a "new low."

International media labelled it a "farcical end", with Al Jazeera noting how politics overshadowed play. On X, Pakistani users cried foul, while Indians praised the "symbolic stand."

The tournament

The Asia Cup, Pakistan's first hosting in 17 years under a hybrid model, was marred by controversies from the start. Rain disruptions, venue shifts and off-field spats defined it, with the final's trophy drama encapsulating the rift. Analysts warn it could strain future Indo-Pak fixtures, amid calls for ICC intervention.