Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers has reacted strongly to the Asia Cup 2025 controversy, urging that “politics should stay aside” from cricket. His remarks came after India refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi following their victory in the final against Pakistan.
India defeated Pakistan by five wickets to win the Asia Cup 2025 in Dubai. However, the post-match ceremony drew more attention than the result. The presentation was delayed by over an hour after India refused to accept the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s Interior Minister. As a result, the Indian team celebrated without the trophy, with captain Suryakumar Yadav mimicking the lift.
AB de Villiers on Politics in Cricket
Speaking about the incident, AB de Villiers said:
“Team India sort of weren’t happy with who was handing out the trophy. I don’t feel that belongs in sports. Politics should stay aside. Sport is one thing, and it should be celebrated for what it is.”
He added that such issues put players in a tough position and leave a negative impression. De Villiers also praised India’s performance, noting their strong preparation for the T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka.
Pakistan Cricket Board and Mohsin Naqvi’s Response
The Pakistan Cricket Board chief Mohsin Naqvi rejected claims that he mishandled the presentation, stating he was ready to hand over the trophy and that India could collect it from the ACC office. While some reports suggested an apology to the BCCI, Naqvi later denied this. The ACC expressed regret over the situation but left further decisions to Test-playing member boards.
The controversy also roused criticism in Pakistan. Former captain Shahid Afridi opined Mohsin Naqvi ought to detach his political duties with the sport of cricket, which implies that the dual position interferes with the PCB focus.
The tension that existed between India and Pakistan in the field of cricket was highlighted by the Asia Cup 2025 trophy row. The lack of handshakes in the matches and the trophy stand-off emphasized the fact that the tournament was shadowed by political relations.
 President and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi following their victory in the final against Pakistan.){kind=link}