Voices in Pakistan demand no more matches vs India after Asia Cup presentation row

The controversial conclusion to the 2025 Asia Cup final continues to spark backlash in Pakistan, with voices urging the country’s cricket board to refuse future matches against India.

At the heart of the drama was the trophy presentation after India defeated Pakistan by five wickets, the Indian team declined to accept the winners’ trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, who simultaneously serves as President of the Asian Cricket Council and Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board.

The presentation ceremony was stalled and eventually curtailed without the trophy being handed over. Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav later said his team had been “denied” the moment to lift the trophy.

In the wake of that controversy, some former Pakistani players have made strong statements. Former wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal publicly urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to consider completely boycotting matches against India in future multi-nation tournaments, citing what he called India’s disrespectful behaviour.

Akmal described the act of refusing the trophy as “cheap behaviour” and argued that unless adequate apologies or institutional changes occur, Pakistan should not engage in further fixtures against India.

Other voices in Pakistan’s cricketing community echoed similar sentiments. Analysts and commentators warned the dispute could deepen mistrust between boards and further politicize cricket ties between the two nations, which are already strained.

PCB itself has not yet issued a formal statement endorsing a boycott. Some observers expect that the board will consult stakeholders, sponsors, and ICC regulations before making such a consequential decision.

This clash adds another chapter to a fraught history of Indo-Pak cricket relations. Since 2013, the two nations have not held bilateral series and meet only in multilateral tournaments.