India’s cricket team declined to accept the 2025 Asia Cup trophy from PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, marking a significant political statement. This refusal serves as a rejection of Pakistan’s disinformation and propaganda, which Naqvi is perceived to represent. Naqvi, also the chairman of the Asian Cricket Council and Pakistan’s interior minister, has previously stirred controversy with claims that Pakistan outperformed India militarily.
India’s stance sends two messages: it refuses to let sports serve as a platform for political propaganda and aims to keep substantive issues separate from optics. The Indian team’s decision is backed by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, who stated that they would not accept the trophy from someone “waging a war against the country.” India insists on returning the trophy and medals, emphasizing that sportsmanship does not equate to political concession. Overall, the incident reflects India’s refusal to endorse narratives that could legitimize misleading information from Pakistan.
