Midnight drama and the missing Asia Cup

By K.R. Nayar
From Dubai International Stadium

Cricket is often lauded for its uncertainty and exciting endings. But never have I witnessed a more inglorious ending to a tournament, with the winning team not receiving their trophy! India refused to accept the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, the Asian Cricket Council President, Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, and a Pakistan minister, who had reportedly made a few inflammatory remarks on India following the recent political war between both the finalists. Since Naqvi was not willing to let someone else from the presentation party handover the trophy to Team India, it was a funny ending to the event with the final presentation ceremony delayed by over an hour. Ultimately Naqvi stuck to his stance of my way or no way.

 

Indian team celebrate the Asia Cup win without the trophy. Photo: ACC

A press conference past 1am

Never before had journalists to wait for nearly three hours after a match for the post-match press conference,  and the Indian skipper addressing the media without the winners’ trophy beside him. . It resembled a scene straight out of a mystery film where the main character is missing. As a result, when Pakistan skipper Salman Agha attended the post-match press conference, it was past 1am, and the Pakistan media manager addressed the journalists with a “good morning.” When questions to Agha became too many, the manager interjected and said: “Let us end the press conference before we say good afternoon.”

Mohsin Naqvi with the Asia Cup on the opening day with all the captains. Photo by K.R. Nayar 

Asia Cup in hotel’s left luggage?

When such strange acts happen after a tournament, it is better not to debate the rights and wrongs since what happened was something that should not have taken place. With Naqvi taking away the trophy, some of the headlines in a few newspapers stated that he had run away with the Asia Cup! Now the fear is whether this trophy will land up in the left-luggage room of his hotel. If Naqvi carries it to Pakistan too, it may become the first trophy to go on a reluctant world tour without its winning team!

 

Asia Cup on Desert Safari

What will Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav say if a few fans, who may not be aware about the midnight drama, ask him where the Asia Cup is? He may have to tell them that the trophy has stayed back for a Desert Safari. Pakistan fans left the stadium immediately after India won the match, but Indian fans stayed back. As a result, when the Pakistan team delayed their arrival for the presentation, they were booed along with Naqvi. So it looks like in an India-Pakistan contest, one will need to remember that the match is not won till the last ball is bowled, but till the last fan leaves the stadium.

 

When Indian skipper Surya Kumar Yadav said Gussa ho rahe ho app. Photo by K.R. Nayar 

Gussa ho rahe ho aap!

A Pakistan journalist, who broke the protocol of seeking permission from the Indian media manager to ask a question during the press conference, started off by saying that Indian cricketers did not shake hands with players and boycotted Naqvi too. Unfortunately, he could not complete his sentence or question. Yadav coolly asked him: “Gussa ho rahe ho aap?” (Are you getting angry?). Before he could even respond, his mike was snatched out of his hand.

Despite the very late hour, Suryakumar Yadav obliges selfie requests from journalists. Photo by K.R. Nayar 

One of most interesting responses came from Yadav to a journalist who asked  him where the trophy was. He said: “My trophies are sitting in the dressing room, all the 14 guys with me, the support staff, those are the real trophies throughout this journey in the Asia Cup. Yadav despite the ungodly hour cheerfully posed for selfies with almost every journalist

Dubai Police's Mansory car parked at the entrance to the stadium. Photo by K.R. Nayar 

Luxury car show room?

Despite all that happened before the final, the enthusiasm with which the fans arrived for the final was a treat to watch. Almost every fan carried their country’s flag with them and wore their team’s jersey. Even though Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are not part of the team, some fans wore jerseys with their names and numbers. The VIP parking area resembled a car showroom with the latest model cars. Dubai Police outmatched them with their German Mansory car.

 

Indian fans wearing the Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma jerseys. Photo K.R. Nayar 

Glove before wicket and smiling Gambhir

When Pakistan captain Agha hit a high catch to wicketkeeper Sanju Samson, Pakistan coach Mike Hesson was seen quickly making a note in his diary. It looked like he was quickly noting down to cancel Agha’s return ticket to Pakistan. Bangladesh umpire Masudur Rahman was so confused that he gave Shaheen Afridi leg before when the ball had clearly hit the glove and should have been judged Glove Before Wicket (GBW). Then, when the ball actually hit Afridi’s pad, he declared him not out, only to be proved wrong after review. This Asia Cup final was filled with unusual happenings, and one that will stand out is India coach Gautam Gambhir seen smiling for a change!