India beat Pakistan by five wickets: Asia Cup 2025 final – as it happened

That is it from our coverage of the 2025 Asia Cup final.

A surreal end to the tournament with India’s failure to collect the trophy despite their win against Pakistan.

The match itself was another thriller, but now overshadowed by the events after.

We do hope you enjoyed the coverage of the day and the tournament as a whole.

For now, though – from me, Kevin Hand, and on behalf of Hafsa Adil – it is goodbye.

A Pakistani journalist poses a question to the Indian captain about the politicisation of the sport and the tournament following the no-handshake row, and now the Indian team’s refusal to accept the trophy.

He’s been accused of being the first captain to mix politics with sport at an international tournament.

Suryakumar was advised against answering the question by the Indian team’s media manager.

A journalist reads out a politically loaded congratulatory tweet from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Indian team and asks for his reaction to it.

Suryakumar ducks the question by saying he has not been following social media after the match.

“I’m sure the whole country must be happy and celebrating the win with smiles on their faces.”

The Indian captain responds by saying: “It’s one thing that I have never seen in my career that a champion team is denied its trophy.

“We deserved but we didn’t receive it.

“However, my trophies are the 14 guys and support staff who have been with us on this journey.”

India captain Suryakumar Yadav is now speaking to the media in Dubai.

These were the words of presenter Doull as the Asia Cricket Council (ACC) hosted the official post-match ceremony: “I have been informed by the ACC that the Indian cricket team will not be collecting their awards tonight. So that does conclude the post-match presentation.”

The presentation ceremony took more than an hour to get going as rumours and reports swirled that India did not want to get the trophy from Pakistan Cricket Board chief and ACC head Mohsin Naqvi.

The India team and staff appear to be partaking in their own pretend trophy lift with no trophy in hand.

Two pyrotechnic machines behind them are in operation and have gone off in line with the pretend trophy lift, so either India have gained control of some of the equipment or some stadium staff are still at hand.

The process is taking place next to the stage that was scheduled to host the official ceremony.

All the officials from the presentation have left the field, however, and the Indian players and staff are on their own.

The Press Trust of India reports that the “Indian team refuses to accept Asia Cup winners’ trophy from Pakistan minister and ACC head Mohsin Naqvi” and this is what led to the boycott of the trophy lift and India captain Suryakumar Yadav’s interview at the post-match presentation.

We’ll bring you more as we have it, but official channels are yet to release any information other than Doull’s announcement when presenting the on-field ceremony just a few moments ago.

Some of the India players are on the field taking calls and taking in something of the atmosphere after their victory.

That, however, is hard to measure following the boos for the Pakistan players and for Mohsin Naqvi, the president of the Asia Cricket Council and Pakistan’s interior minister.

It is a surreal atmosphere. The fireworks, meant for the trophy lift, seemingly misfired during what we did have of the post-match ceremony.

As it turned out, they were not to have fired at all, given the cancellation of the winners part of the post-match ceremony and the trophy lift to follow.

Many people are still meandering on the field although Pakistan appear to have headed back to their dressing room after receiving their runners-up medals and hearing from their captain.

Simon Doull, who is presenting the post-match ceremony on the field, has just informed us that the Asia Cricket Council have confirmed India will not be collecting the trophy.

With that, the former New Zealand international informed the stadium – and us all – that that would be the end of the presentation ceremony and interviews.

“Getting into this team after winning the World Cup wasn’t easy for any opener,” he said.

“We had a plan and intent. To play like this, you need a special support from your coach and team.

“If you want to play like this, you are going to fail, but you have to follow the process, and that is what I was getting from the team as well.

“I had a plan that if I got spinners in the powerplay, I would utilise it and similarly if the fast bowlers would come.

“I had a plan no matter who the bowler.”

Kuldeep is the bowler of the tournament.

Abhishek is the batter and player of the tournament.

7️⃣ Matches
3️⃣1️⃣4️⃣ Runs
3️⃣ Fifties

For his blockbuster performance in #AsiaCup2025, #TeamIndia opener Abhishek Sharma is named the Player of the Tournament 👏👏@IamAbhiSharma4 pic.twitter.com/AM11dTho7u

— BCCI (@BCCI) September 28, 2025

The stadium roof has prematurely fired, delaying matters slightly.

“It is a tough pill to swallow. Bowling, we gave everything, and if it finished well, it could have been a different story,” the Pakistan captain says.

“We couldn’t rotate the strike properly, and that is the reason we didn’t get the score we wanted. We need to sort out our batting soon.

“They bowled outstandingly well, and we have to give them credit, but the batting was a concern.

“We fought really well, and we as a team are very proud. We will improve and come back stronger.”

Mohsin Naqvi and Salman Agha are heavily booed as the former presented the losing cheque to the latter.

Much of the stadium has cleared out, but the reaction of those who have stayed is clear.

The Pakistan team are called up player by player for their medals, and boos ring out.

Haris Rauf receives the loudest boos, and a number of chants also break out with his name being read.

“It was a bit pressured, but I wanted to stay in and finish the game,” Tilak said.

“They were bowling well and mixing up the pace. I wanted to stay calm and win for my country.

“We have prepared for every situation. You should be flexible in every position. I was backing my game and working hard on sweep shots and rotating the strike.

“It is one of the best innings of my life, and it is for all Indians.”