Asia Cup: ‘If war was your measure of pride…’: Mohsin Naqvi replies to PM Modi after India beat Pakistan
After India's victory in the Asia Cup final, a standoff occurred when they refused the trophy from ACC chairman Mohsin Naqvi due to his political stance. The incident escalated tensions, overshadowing the match and prompting Naqvi's combative social media response.
Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, acting as the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chairman, withheld the Asia Cup trophy from the Indian cricket team after they refused to accept it from him, sparking a major post-match controversy.
The dramatic standoff unfolded over 90 minutes at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium following India’s five-wicket win over Pakistan in a thrilling Asia Cup final on Sunday. While the on-field performance was gripping, the chaos that ensued during the trophy presentation quickly stole the spotlight, overshadowing the cricketing triumph itself.
What did Naqvi say?
The controversy started when India declined to accept the Asia Cup trophy from ACC chief and Pakistani minister Mohsin Naqvi, citing his political position and anti-India stance.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday likened the India-Pakistan final in the Asia Cup to Operation Sindoor, and said the outcome remained the same and India won. He said on X, “Operation Sindoor on the games field. Outcome is the same - India wins! Congrats to our cricketers.”
In an effort to defuse the situation, ACC officials proposed that Emirates Cricket Board vice-chairman Khalid Al Zarooni handle the trophy presentation, but Naqvi reportedly blocked the arrangement.
After nearly an hour-long standoff, the trophy was quietly removed, while individual Indian performers like Tilak Varma and Abhishek Sharma were honoured separately.
Adding fuel to the fire, Naqvi later posted on X in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's congratulatory post on the team's victory.
Naqvi wrote, “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.”
India had named its military operation “Operation Sindoor” following the Pahalgam terror attack, as it targeted terrorists based in Pakistan and then engaged in a conflict with the Pakistani military.
The Asia Cup was being held in the backdrop of border tensions between India and Pakistan after 26 tourists were killed by terrorists in Pahalgam earlier this year, leading to military action by India under Operation Sindoor.
Operation Sindoor
India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians.
India and Pakistan reached an understanding on May 10 to end the conflict after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes.
Unlike Shehbaz Sharif's hypothetical claims, India backed up the details of the strikes with press conferences held by top military officials, who provided evidence, including satellite images.
During the first press briefing on May 7, India clarified its response as focused, measured and non-escalatory. It was specifically mentioned that Pakistani military establishments had not been targeted. It was also reiterated that any attack on military targets in India will invite a suitable response. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, across multiple press briefings on May 8, 9, and 10, laid bare India's plan of action and the full extent of Pakistan's designs.
(With inputs from agencies)