AB de Villiers goes anti-India, openly sides with Mohsin Naqvi on Asia Cup trophy row
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India refused to take the Asia Cup winners' trophy from the hands of ACC Chief Mohsin Naqvi. Former South African great AB de Villiers reacted to the chaos around the trophy row, slamming the act despite praising India's dominance in the tournament.
The Indian team won the Asia Cup 2025 and went on to deny taking the trophy from the hands of the PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi, who currently also chairs the Asian Cricket Council. From no handshakes to the standoff over medals and silverware, this has been a massive scare.
AB de Villiers' interpretation of the incident marked a clear message to separate cricket from geopolitics. The former South African addressed India's refusal to accept the Asia Cup Trophy.
AB de Villiers slams India's stance of not accepting the Asia Cup Trophy
Recently, while speaking on his YouTube channel, #360, ABD went on to address India's refusal. AB de Villiers did not shy away from the optics of the presentation, as while mentioning the incident, he 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. Quite sad to see that, but hopefully they sort things out in the future."
"It does put the sport, the players, the sportsmen, the cricketers in a very tough position, and that’s what I hate to see. It was quite awkward there at the end,” he added.
His point throughout the conversation seemed to be simple, as he indicated that off-field hostilities should not affect the dynamics on the field. For him, the conflation of the ceremony seemed like an avoidable distraction that shifted the spotlight from the champions' on-field brilliance.
ABD praises India's one-sided dominance in the Asia Cup
Despite having slammed the Indians for the spectacle around the trophy presentation, AB de Villiers did not forget to praise India for their performance. The legend knows the importance of big moments and performing well in such situations.
“Let us focus on what’s most important (the cricket itself). India are looking really, really strong. Building up to that T20 World Cup. Remember, it’s not too far away. And they look like they’ve got a lot of talent, and they play the big moments well. So fantastic,” said AB de Villiers.
BCCI vows to escalate Asia Cup row to ICC, yet Mohsin Naqvi opposes budging an inch
After not having a proper conclusion from the Asian Cricket Council and its chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, who, in the heat of the moment, took the trophy away from the field. The BCCI representatives vowed to escalate the matter to the ICC after they walked out of the ACC meeting, which they attended virtually.
Mohsin Naqvi, despite these recent developments and the controversy over the Asia Cup Trophy, has urged the Indians to accept the trophy only from him, as it is kept in the ACC headquarters, and Naqvi has refused to hand it to the Emirates Cricket Board.
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India National Cricket Team Pakistan National Cricket Team India vs Pakistan Asia Cup Mohsin Naqvi AB de Villiers Asian Cricket Council (ACC) BCCI South Africa National Cricket Team
