Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi strongly reacted to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s controversial statement saying:

“Linking sports with war is an act of desperation and an insult to the spirit of cricket.”
 

This reaction came after India’s victory in the Asia Cup 2025 final, when Modi linked the triumph to “Operation Sindoor,” a four-day military skirmish earlier in May between the two countries.

Modi’s Statement and Naqvi’s Response

  • Narendra Modi after the final win wrote on X (Twitter): “#OperationSindoor on the sports field, the result is the same — India wins!”
  • Mohsin Naqvi replied: “If war is your pride, then history also remembers India’s humiliating defeats at the hands of Pakistan. No cricket match can change that fact.”
  • Naqvi further said dragging sports into the narrative of war is “desperation and an insult to the sanctity of the game.”

Indian Team Refuses to Accept Trophy

After the final match, Indian players refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy escalating the controversy.

  • During the award ceremony, presenter Simon Doull announced: “The Indian team will not receive their awards.”
  • This is the first time a team has refused to accept a trophy from the ACC chairman.
  • Experts termed this behaviour “against the spirit of sportsmanship.”

PCB Donates Match Fees to Victims

The Pakistan Cricket Board announced that the national team would dedicate its final match fees to the Pakistani citizens martyred in the May 7 Indian attack.

According to PCB’s statement: “These fees are dedicated to the innocent civilians including children, who were martyred in Indian aggression. Our prayers are with their families.”

Meanwhile, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav also announced to donate his fee to Indian victims though he had already been warned by the ICC for making controversial political statements.

Pakistan Captain Salman Agha’s Remarks

In the post-match press conference, Pakistan captain Salman Agha expressed deep disappointment at India’s behaviour.

  • He said: “If they think refusing a handshake insulted us, the truth is they insulted cricket itself.”
  • Agha further added: “Good teams don’t behave like this. We maintained our dignity and received our awards with patience.”

List of Controversies

Match DateControversyAction/Reaction
14 September (Group Match)Suryakumar Yadav linked victory to Pahalgam attackPCB filed complaint with ICC
21 September (Super Four)Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan’s gesturesICC reprimand and fines
28 September (Final)Indian team refused to accept trophyGlobal criticism

Background and Analysis

This Asia Cup was the first cricket series between the two countries after a brief but intense military clash in May this year. Relations were already tense and all three matches were marred by controversies and political statements.

Experts say:

  • India’s use of sports for the political purposes is a “dangerous trend.”
  • Intolerance in sports can fuel further regional tensions.
  • Calm and measured response of Pakistan demonstrated better sportsmanship amid the crisis.

Key Takeaways

  • Mohsin Naqvi’s sharp response to Modi: “A cricket match cannot rewrite history.”
  • Indian team escalated the controversy by refusing to accept the Asia Cup trophy.
  • PCB dedicated players match fees to victims of the May 7 Indian attack.
  • Pakistan captain Salman Agha: “India insulted cricket, not us.”
  • All Pakistan-India Asia Cup matches were overshadowed by controversies and political statements.