Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi has warned India against dragging war into sports, saying such actions only show desperation. His response came after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi linked India’s Asia Cup final win over Pakistan to a past military operation.
On X, Modi congratulated the Indian team by calling the victory a continuation of “Operation Sindoor,” a reference to the four-day military conflict in May. He wrote, “#OperationSindoor on the games field. Outcome is the same — India wins! Congrats to our cricketers.”
#OperationSindoor on the games field.
Outcome is the same – India wins!
Congrats to our cricketers.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 28, 2025
Naqvi reacted sharply and said, “If war was your measure of pride, history already records your humiliating defeats at Pakistan’s hands.” He added, “No cricket match can rewrite that truth. Dragging war into sport only exposes desperation and disgraces the very spirit of the game.”
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 controversy deepened when the Indian cricket team refused to collect the winners’ trophy from Naqvi. Broadcaster Simon Doull confirmed during the presentation that India would not receive its awards. The snub marked a new low in the history of Pakistan-India cricket ties.
Separately, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced that the national team would donate its Asia Cup match fees to the victims of India’s May 7 attack on Pakistan. In a statement on X, the board wrote, “The Pakistan Cricket Team has dedicated its Asia Cup final match fees to the innocent victims martyred in the May 7 attack, in which civilians, including children, lost their lives.”
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s captain Salman Agha also condemned India’s behaviour. He told reporters, “I think what has happened in this tournament is very disappointing. If they think they disrespected us by not shaking hands, then I say they disrespected cricket.” He added, “Good teams do what we have done. We waited for our medals and took them.”
On the other hand, India’s Suryakumar Yadav claimed the team was “denied” the trophy but also said they chose not to take it. “If you tell me about the trophies, my trophies are sitting in my dressing room, all 14 players and support staff. They are the real trophies for me,” he said.
Throughout the tournament, the rivalry carried tension. India refused handshakes, politicised wins, and clashed with Pakistani players. Earlier, Naqvi had lodged a complaint with the ICC over India’s remarks, and the body opened a probe. The Asia Cup was the first series between the rivals since the May military conflict, making the controversies even sharper.
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