"Politics should stay aside": AB de Villiers opines of Asia Cup 2025 trophy row
Former South Africa cricketer AB de Villiers has shared his take on the trophy row that emerged after the Men in Blue won the Asia Cup 2025. Suryakumar Yadav and his men completed a 3-0 sweep over their arch-rivals, winning the India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 final and scripting an unbeaten run in the sub-continental tournament. However, despite their dominant performance in the edition, Team India left the tournament as champions who were not handed the trophy. The Men in Blue refused to accept the silverware from the hands of Mohsin Naqvi, the PCB and ACC Chair, who then walked away from the venue with the Asia Cup trophy. Now, as the tussle continues between the BCCI and Naqvi, De Villiers has given his two cents on the issue.
AB de Villiers opens up on the trophy row after the India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 final
Speaking on his weekly 360 segment on YouTube, the South African legend addressed the awkward trophy presentation and India’s refusal to accept the award from the ACC President, Mohsin Naqvi. Reflecting on India’s victory in the Asia Cup 2025, AB de Villiers emphasised the need to clearly separate sports from politics.
"Team India sort of weren't happy with who was handing out the trophy. I don't feel that belongs in sport. Politics should stay aside," De Villiers said. "Sport is one thing, and it should be celebrated for what it is. Quite sad to see that, but hopefully they will sort things out in the future. It does put the sport, the players, the sportsmen, the cricketers in a very tough position, and that's what I hate to see. It was quite awkward there at the end," he added.
Throughout the Asia Cup 2025, tensions between Indian and Pakistani players were evident. Handshakes were avoided, jibes were exchanged on the field, and disputes over medals and the trophy dominated the headlines, threatening to overshadow the cricket itself. The former South African captain did not shy away from discussing the optics of the trophy ceremony. By keeping diplomacy separate from cricketing celebrations, ABD framed the incident as an unnecessary distraction that diverted attention from the team’s on-field accomplishments.
The India vs Pakistan tussle that culminated into Men in Blue leaving without the Asia Cup 2025 trophy
India’s decision to reject the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as a minister in the Pakistan government, sparked significant debate. Earlier during the Asia Cup 2025, the PCB chief had made a contentious remark regarding the cross-border clashes between India and Pakistan in May, which were triggered by the Pahalgam terror attack.
Adding to the drama, Mohsin Naqvi retained the trophy after the India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 final, denying Men in Blue the chance to celebrate with it. Despite this, the Indian side took to the podium and acknowledged their victory. Reports later suggested that Naqvi requested India captain Suryakumar Yadav to personally collect the trophy from the ACC headquarters in the UAE, maintaining his stance. Though he reportedly apologized to ACC members after being questioned by BCCI officials in a post-final meeting, he remained firm in his position.
The Asia Cup 2025 marked the first India vs Pakistan encounter on the field since the Pahalgam attack, and unsurprisingly, off-field tensions dominated discussions. During the group-stage clash, India captain Suryakumar Yadav declined to shake hands with his Pakistani counterpart, Salman Ali Agha, at the toss. The rest of the Indian team followed suit, refusing handshakes after the match. In response, the Pakistan captain boycotted the post-match presentation ceremony.
Following the victory, Suryakumar Yadav dedicated India’s win to the victims of the Pahalgam attack and to the Indian armed forces. In retaliation, Pakistan threatened to withdraw from the tournament unless match referee Andy Pycroft was removed, accusing him of enabling the handshake controversy. Tensions escalated further during the Super Four match, as Pakistan players made provocative gestures referencing their unverified claims of shooting down Indian fighter jets during the May skirmish.
The India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 final remained highly charged as well, culminating in India being denied possession of the physical trophy. Nonetheless, the Men in Blue delivered a commanding performance, defeating Pakistan in a thrilling encounter to complete a 3-0 series sweep. Despite facing a stern challenge in the summit clash, India’s team proved far too strong, securing a memorable and emphatic triumph over their arch-rivals.
