Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik has criticised the Indian cricket team’s gesture not to accept the Asia Cup trophy after defeating the Pakistan team by five wickets in the final on Sunday. The Indians had opted not to accept the trophy because they objected to Asia Cricket Council (ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi handing it to them. Naqvi is also the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman and the country’s Interior Minister. Naqvi reportedly took the trophy with him. Malik said that the decision not to accept the trophy will “haunt” the Indian team.
“Just see how much pressure the players went through to win the Asia Cup. How much heat there was that they played in. They worked so hard. Why did they do all that hard work? To win the Asia Cup trophy, to win the tournament! And after they’ve worked so hard, you don’t even come to take the trophy,” chuckled Malik. “It was such a big achievement, and that too after such a close match. It’s a massive moment.”
“Look, today, they might be celebrating this thing like this. But down the line, after a few years, this will haunt them. They’ll think: ‘We won the trophy, we worked hard’. They are athletes and sportsmen. A sportsman’s job is to come to the ground, give your best shot, and that’s it.”
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As The Indian Express reported, the immediate trigger for the Indian cricketers refusing to accept the trophy from Naqvi was his reposting of images on X — including one titled ‘Final Day’ in which Pakistan cricketers, including captain Salman Agha and fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi, are seen wearing flight suits with images of airborne fighter jets in the background. Earlier during the tournament, Naqvi had posted a picture of Cristiano Ronaldo depicting a crashing plane.
WATCH: What former Pakistan stars had to say about India’s trophy snub
“I have never seen a champion (team) not getting a trophy. We deserved it. The real trophies are my 14 colleagues and they will stay in my memory,” India captain Suryakumar Yadav said in the post-match media briefing.
Shoaib Malik says not taking Asia Cup trophy will ‘haunt’ Indian cricket team after a few years | Cricket News
Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik has criticised the Indian cricket team’s gesture not to accept the Asia Cup trophy after defeating the Pakistan team by five wickets in the final on Sunday. The Indians had opted not to accept the trophy because they objected to Asia Cricket Council (ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi handing it to them. Naqvi is also the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman and the country’s Interior Minister. Naqvi reportedly took the trophy with him. Malik said that the decision not to accept the trophy will “haunt” the Indian team.
“Just see how much pressure the players went through to win the Asia Cup. How much heat there was that they played in. They worked so hard. Why did they do all that hard work? To win the Asia Cup trophy, to win the tournament! And after they’ve worked so hard, you don’t even come to take the trophy,” chuckled Malik. “It was such a big achievement, and that too after such a close match. It’s a massive moment.”
“Look, today, they might be celebrating this thing like this. But down the line, after a few years, this will haunt them. They’ll think: ‘We won the trophy, we worked hard’. They are athletes and sportsmen. A sportsman’s job is to come to the ground, give your best shot, and that’s it.”
Story continues below this ad
As The Indian Express reported, the immediate trigger for the Indian cricketers refusing to accept the trophy from Naqvi was his reposting of images on X — including one titled ‘Final Day’ in which Pakistan cricketers, including captain Salman Agha and fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi, are seen wearing flight suits with images of airborne fighter jets in the background. Earlier during the tournament, Naqvi had posted a picture of Cristiano Ronaldo depicting a crashing plane.
WATCH: What former Pakistan stars had to say about India’s trophy snub
“I have never seen a champion (team) not getting a trophy. We deserved it. The real trophies are my 14 colleagues and they will stay in my memory,” India captain Suryakumar Yadav said in the post-match media briefing.
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