The Indian team refused to share the stage with the ACC Chief Mohsin Naqvi and didn’t collect the trophy today at the presentation ceremony. Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma collected their respective match awards.

Dubai:

Team India players refused to take the Asia Cup trophy from ACC Chief and PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi amidst the controversy between India and Pakistan that brewed up during the Asia Cup. The presentation ceremony was delayed by more than an hour, even as the Pakistan players hadn’t emerged from their dressing room either, as a total drama unfolded after the thrilling final in Dubai.

Eventually, 75 minutes after the match ended, the presentation ceremony began, with Simon Doull, a neutral presenter, taking the mic. After all the drama following India’s refusal to take the trophy from Naqvi, it was reported that the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) vice-chairman Khali Al Zarooni would hand over the trophy to the Indian team.

But later it was told by Simon Doull that the Indian team won’t be accepting the trophy in the presentation ceremony. Accordingly, the ceremony was concluded right away, abruptly after Abhishek Sharma was announced the player of the tournament of Asia Cup. Notably, Team India players didn’t share the stage with Mohsin Naqvi.

Pakistan players booed by Indian fans at the presentation ceremony

It ended up being a farce as far as the presentation ceremony is concerned, as the Pakistan players were booed as they collected their runners-up medal. Every Pakistan cricketer was booed by the Indian fans as they walked up to the stage, while Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha also had a word with the presenter Doull. He was being booed right through during the interview.

It remains to be seen if the Indian players will receive the Asia Cup trophy on Monday from the Emirates Cricket Board Vice-Chairman Khalid Al Zoorani, who probably wasn’t present at the podium. A lot of drama unfolded in the final, but it was a thrilling game that concluded the Asia Cup with India lifting the title for the record ninth time. India had won the Asia Cup T20 tournament for the second time, having won the first ever edition of the format nine years ago in 2016.