NEW DELHI: PPakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi is facing widespread criticism and ridicule online after Pakistan’s third straight defeat to India in the Asia Cup, with many fans demanding his immediate resignation. The controversy escalated further after a video surfaced showing a man running with the winners’ trophy, allegedly on Naqvi’s instructions, following the final in Dubai.India defeated Pakistan in Sunday’s final, but the post-match presentation turned chaotic when Indian players refused to accept the winner’s trophy from Naqvi, who also serves as the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chairman and Pakistan’s interior minister.
As Naqvi waited on one side of the stage for the ceremony to begin, the Indian team stood about 15 yards away, refusing to move. The delay extended for several minutes, and when Naqvi finally stepped onto the stage, Indian fans inside the stadium booed loudly, chanting “Bharat Mata Ki Jai.”Officials informed Naqvi that the Indian team would not accept the trophy from him. Soon after, a man believed to be part of the organising staff was seen taking the trophy inside the dressing room — an act many on social media allege was done on Naqvi’s orders. A video showing the man running out of the ground with the trophy has since gone viral.The awkward scenes continued as the Pakistani players remained inside their dressing room for nearly an hour after the match, leaving Naqvi stranded and embarrassed on stage. When captain Salman Agha and his team finally appeared, they were greeted with loud “India, India” chants from the crowd.Watch the video hereWith the Indian team refusing to take the trophy from Naqvi, the ceremony ended without the presentation. Naqvi eventually left the dais with the trophy and winners’ medals still in his possession.Indian players later celebrated by pretending to hold an invisible trophy, while Suryakumar Yadav announced in the post-match press conference that he would donate his Asia Cup match fees to the Indian armed forces.
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