ISLAMABAD – The argument over the Asia Cup 2025 final’s post-match presentation ceremony has grown into a diplomatic and cricketing crisis, with former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal pushing for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to take a severe move. Akmal told ARY News that the PCB could “put its foot down and refuse to play against Indian in the upcoming multi-nation events” as a way to show that they don’t agree with what the Indian team did.
The ruckus started when India, who won the Asia Cup by beating Pakistan by five wickets, declined to take the winner’s trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, who is both the head of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and the PCB and Pakistan’s Interior Minister. The Indian team’s refusal to cooperate, which pushed back the ceremony by 45 minutes, was said to be a reaction to Naqvi’s supposed anti-India posts on social media throughout the competition.
Akmal, who was angry, added, “The Pakistan board should say right away that we should never play against India.” Let’s see what the ICC does. He then asked if the International Cricket Council (ICC) was fair, pointing out that BCCI Secretary Jay Shah is also the ACC President. Akmal said that a group of Australians, South Africans, and New Zealanders who are not involved should look into the situation.
Akmal also said that the Indian squad acted “cheap” during the competition, pointing to the lack of handshakes after the group stage match and the alleged sledging on the field. But he still said that the Indian team’s unwillingness to receive the trophy from Naqvi was the most offensive thing they could have done.
“We will keep seeing this cheap harkatein (behavior) from India.” “We have seen in this tournament that they have done as much damage to cricket as they could,” Akmal said. “PCB and ACC president made the right choice: the president will only give the trophy to the winner.” The cricketing world will laugh at India.
Akmal’s statements show that the cricket community in Pakistan is getting more and more angry and frustrated. Many people have talked about the event on social media and in the news, and many see it as a clear indicator that the political tensions between the two countries are affecting the sport.