South African cricket legend AB de Villiers has voiced strong criticism against Team India for refusing to accept the Asia Cup 2025 trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s Interior Minister. The incident, which unfolded after India’s five-wicket win over Pakistan in the final, has sparked heated debate across the cricketing world.
According to reports, Team India did not want to receive the trophy from Naqvi, leading to an awkward situation at the post-match ceremony. In response, Naqvi left the venue with the trophy and winners’ medals, taking them back to his hotel room in Dubai.
De Villiers, who has played in front of Indian fans for over a decade through the Indian Premier League (IPL), said on his YouTube channel that politics should never interfere in sport. “Team India sort of weren’t happy with who was handing out the trophy. I don’t feel that belongs in sport. Politics should stay aside. Sport is one thing, and it should be celebrated for what it is. Quite sad to see that,” he remarked. 
The former South Africa captain added that such incidents create unnecessary tension for players. “It does put the sport, the players, the cricketers in a very tough position, and that’s what I hate to see. It was quite awkward there at the end,” De Villiers said, expressing disappointment at the scenes that overshadowed the final.
While India celebrated their unbeaten run in the Asia Cup, the trophy controversy grabbed more headlines than the victory itself. The absence of handshakes and visible gestures of goodwill between Indian and Pakistani players further underlined the political undertones surrounding the tournament.
Despite his disappointment, De Villiers praised India’s current form in T20 cricket and their preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup in 2026. “Let’s focus on what’s most important — the cricket itself. India are looking really, really strong. They’ve got a lot of talent, and they play the big moments well. So fantastic to watch,” he said.
