New Delhi – What should have been a night of unbridled celebration for India’s cricket team after a dominant 7-0 unbeaten campaign turned into an unprecedented diplomatic standoff. The Naqvi My Wish My Trophy statement emerged as the defining phrase of a chaotic evening when Mohsin Naqvi, president of the Asian Cricket Council who also serves as chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board and his country’s interior minister, refused to let anyone else present the championship trophy to India.
Egotistical Stance Overshadows Indian Victory
The Naqvi My Wish My Trophy statement reached its peak when the PCB chief decided that if he couldn’t personally hand over the trophy to the victorious Indian team, then no one else would either. This egotistical stance transformed what should have been a moment of glory into a farcical display that left the champions empty-handed and the cricket world bewildered.
India captain Suryakumar Yadav and his men were forced to celebrate with a make-believe trophy after Naqvi chose to put his ego above everything else. The team had just completed a spectacular campaign under their new Twenty20 International captain, with the brilliance and composure of Tilak Varma taking them to a memorable triumph.
Timeline of Chaos: From Victory to Confusion
The final concluded at midnight IST when Rinku Singh deposited Haris Rauf over mid-on for four runs. Tilak and Rinku rushed into their teammates’ arms as the squad charged onto the ground to savor the victory. Pakistan’s players immediately departed, and preparations began for what should have been a routine presentation ceremony.
However, controversy began brewing immediately. Instead of the typical half-hour wait after the final ball, India’s players found themselves sprawled on the outfield for over an hour, waiting while hectic activity unfolded around them. Naqvi, who had flown from the USA specifically to present the trophy, dominated the outfield, engaging in constant parleys and phone conversations that would eventually lead to the Naqvi My Wish My Trophy statement.
Trophy Appears and Disappears
In bizarre scenes that perfectly captured the evening’s discord, the championship trophy was brought to the center of the ground and placed on a rostrum adjacent to the stage, only to be hastily taken away. The ‘Champions’ banner, behind which winning teams traditionally pose with their spoils, disappeared as soon as it appeared, with officials furiously waving it away.
When the presentation party finally climbed on stage at 1:15 AM IST—an hour and fifteen minutes after the final had concluded—the trophy was conspicuously absent. India had officially refused to receive the trophy from the Pakistani boss of the ACC, who remained insistent through his Naqvi My Wish My Trophy statement that it was his prerogative to hand it over and no one else’s.
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Individual Awards Amid Palpable Tension
Despite the unprecedented situation created by the Naqvi My Wish My Trophy statement, individual award presentations proceeded with palpable tension. India’s players—Tilak Varma, Abhishek Sharma, and Kuldeep Yadav—went on stage to collect their individual awards, steadfastly ignoring Naqvi throughout. Notably, Naqvi didn’t applaud when the Indian players picked up their prizes and cheques from sponsor representatives.
Pakistan captain Salman Agha and his team received their medals from Aminul Islam, the former captain who now serves as president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board. In a moment that encapsulated the evening’s discord, Agha collected the runners-up cheque for US $75,000 from Naqvi, then flung it away disdainfully before walking across for a chat with MC Simon Doull.
After Abhishek Sharma finished his interview following his Player of the Tournament prize, Doull announced: “I have been informed by the Asian Cricket Council that the Indian cricket team will not be collecting their awards tonight. So that does conclude the post-match presentation.”
Context: Terror Attack and Diplomatic Tensions
The controversy didn’t occur in isolation. The tournament had been marked by non-cricketing developments taking center stage, with sport becoming almost a sideshow. The dastardly terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22 marked a new dynamic in Indo-Pak relations, clearly influencing the tournament’s atmosphere.
India’s players refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts throughout the tournament, following instructions from higher authorities. There were charges, inquiries, fines, sanctions, boycott threats, and ugly scenes. Numerous provocative statements and gestures from the Pakistani camp were admirably ignored by India’s players, who maintained their focus despite distractions.
Precedent Existed for Alternative Presentation
The Naqvi My Wish My Trophy statement could have been avoided entirely, as precedent existed for alternative arrangements. In 2022, on the same ground, when Dasun Shanaka led Sri Lanka to the Asia Cup title, it wasn’t then ACC boss Jay Shah who presented the trophy, proving that flexibility in such matters was possible and had been practiced before.
Naqvi postured and threw his considerable weight around, embodying the Naqvi My Wish My Trophy statement that ultimately ruined the celebration. India refused to budge from their avowed position, having taken a stance at the higher level. The result was chaotic, unbecoming, and ugly—a sad end to what had been a glorious Indian campaign.
Captain’s Dignified Response to Fiasco
Despite the Naqvi My Wish My Trophy statement denying India tangible reward, Suryakumar Yadav made a telling statement when he insisted that his trophies were sitting beside him—referring to Abhishek Sharma, the Player of the Tournament—and in the dressing room with the other players and support staff. This dignified response highlighted what truly mattered: the team’s achievement and unity.
The captain’s composure stood in stark contrast to the megalomaniac behavior displayed by Naqvi, who flew specifically from the USA to present the trophy but ended up creating an international incident instead. Where Naqvi sought personal glory through the presentation, Suryakumar found it in his team’s camaraderie and collective success, demonstrating true leadership values that transcended the petty politics of the evening.
