'Smiles on faces of people back home is our trophy': Suryakumar Yadav on Asia Cup presentation fiasco

‘We are the champions…’: Suryakumar Yadav plays down not getting the Asia Cup trophy (AP Photo)

In typical flamboyant style, India captain Suryakumar Yadav played down not getting his hands on the Asia Cup trophy after his team’s thrilling five-wicket victory against arch-rivals Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday. India won their ninth continental trophy after a fiercely contested final.

Talking to RevSportz, Suryakumar didn’t give much emphasis to not getting his hands on the trophy after his team refused to accept it from Pakistan's Interior Minister and chairman of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Mohsin Naqvi.

On being asked about the presentation ceremony fiasco, Suryakumar said: “I think it spoke volumes. Our main focus was to win matches and play good cricket. It doesn’t really matter if the trophy came or not. Smiles on the faces of people back home is our trophy. What matters is that my country is happy and we are celebrating. We have billboards in our name that we are the Asia Cup champions. What more do you need?”

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After Indian team’s decline to take the trophy from Naqvi, ACC officials proposed that Khalid Al Zarooni, the vice-chairman of the Emirates Cricket Board, deliver the awards instead, but Naqvi opposed the proposal.

The trophy was discreetly removed by the organizers after a nearly hour-long standoff during which individual performers, notably Tilak Varma and Abhishek Sharma of India, were feted.

Meanwhile, the Indian captain declared that all his match fees from the continental showdown will be donated to the Indian Armed Forces and the families of the victims of the Pahalgam attack.

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"I have decided to donate my match fees from this tournament to support our Armed Forces and the families of the victims who suffered from the Pahalgam terror attack. You always remain in my thoughts," he wrote on X.