Under 19 Team India (Photo: ACC)
India U19 vs Pakistan U19: The final match of Under-19 Asia Cup 2025 is to be played between India and Pakistan on 21 December in Dubai. Now the question is what will happen if India wins? Will the picture look the same as it did 84 days ago or will the story change? The question here is related to taking or not taking the Asia Cup trophy. 84 days ago i.e. on 28 September 2025, India had captured the trophy by defeating Pakistan in the final match of the Asia Cup played between senior teams in UAE. But the Indian team did not take that trophy. Till date that trophy is kept at the headquarters of the Asian Cricket Council in Dubai. So will we see the same story repeating again?
Will India not take the U19 Asia Cup trophy?
India and Pakistan are going to face each other for the second time in the Under 19 Asia Cup 2025. Earlier, both the teams had clashed in the group stage, where the Indian players did not shake hands with the Pakistani players. Probably the same picture of not shaking hands will be seen in the final also. But if the Indian team wins the Under-19 Asia Cup trophy, will it not take it as well? The question remains because here also only Mohsin Naqvi can give the trophy.
Suryakumar Yadav’s Team India did not take the trophy
Talking about the final of the Senior Asia Cup played between India and Pakistan in September this year, after the victory, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav had flatly refused to accept the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi. Now Mohsin Naqvi could have done well if he had only been the President of the Asian Cricket Council. But, along with being the President of Pakistan Cricket Board, he was also a minister in the Government of Pakistan. Suryakumar Yadav did not want to accept the trophy from any Pakistani or any minister there after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. The entire team supported their captain on this decision and did not take the trophy.
Like handshake, will juniors follow ‘elders’ in trophy too?
ICC wants to keep cricket away from politics. In the case of junior cricket, this applies even more strongly. According to media reports, ICC has instructed India and Pakistan to maintain the dignity of the game. But, after seeing the way the Indian Under-19 players did not shake hands with the Pakistani players in view of their seniors in the group stage match, the question has definitely deepened that will they be seen following them even in not winning the Asia Cup trophy?