Kapil Dev Urges Focus on Cricket as Trophy Row Mars India-Pakistan Asia Cup Final

Former Indian cricket captain Kapil Dev has weighed in on the controversy that overshadowed India’s Asia Cup triumph against Pakistan, urging both players and media to separate sports from politics.

India clinched the title with a five-wicket victory over Pakistan in the final at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 28, 2025. However, the post-match celebrations took an unusual turn when the Indian team refused to accept the trophy and medals from Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as the head of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). The presentation ceremony was delayed and significantly shortened, with the Indian squad choosing instead to celebrate their win on the field without the official awards.

Speaking to India Today, Kapil Dev called for keeping the spirit of sport intact despite political tensions.

“Your responsibility, and responsibility for the entire media also, is that we should look into the sports side rather than looking into the politics side. Yes, media has the responsibility to bring everything on the table, but as a sportsman, I would like to see that we should stick to sports. It will be much better,” he said.

The final itself was a rollercoaster. Pakistan began strongly with an 84-run opening stand between Fakhar Zaman and Sahibzada Farhan but then collapsed dramatically, losing nine wickets for just 33 runs to be bowled out for 146 in 19.1 overs. India chased the target with composure, sealing the win with two balls to spare.

The tournament, however, was not free from controversies. Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf was fined 30 percent of his match fee for making a provocative ‘plane crash’ gesture during the Super Four match, while Sahibzada Farhan received a warning for his ‘gunshot’ celebration after a half-century. Farhan defended his actions as a cultural expression.

Kapil Dev, India’s 1983 World Cup–winning captain, also reflected on the decline in Pakistan’s cricketing talent compared to earlier decades.

“They don’t have the similar talent they used to have in the ’80s or ’90s. Pakistan has given the world some of the best cricketers—Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, Zaheer Abbas, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis. But unfortunately, we can’t see similar talent today—not even one percent of what they used to have,” he remarked.

While India’s Asia Cup victory reaffirmed their ability to handle pressure on the big stage, the trophy row has once again underlined the complex relationship between cricket and politics in the subcontinent. The match will be remembered not only for the on-field contest but also for the symbolic stand taken during the presentation ceremony—adding a fresh chapter to the long, storied history of India-Pakistan cricketing encounters.