ISLAMABAD: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi drew parallels between his country’s triumph at the Asia Cup 2025 over Pakistan and the military conflict in May, in which India lost six fighter jets, including Rafales.

The move prompted a sharp response from Pakistan’s interior minister and Asian Cricket Council chief Mohsin Naqvi.

After India defeated Pakistan in the final on Sunday, Modi posted on X, formerly Twitter: “Operation Sindoor on the games field. Outcome is the same – India wins! Congrats to our cricketers.”

Naqvi retorted that equating sport with war distorted both history and the spirit of cricket.

“If war was your measure of pride, history already records your humiliating defeats at Pakistan’s hands. No cricket match can rewrite that truth,” he wrote. “Dragging war into sport only exposes desperation and disgraces the very spirit of the game.”

The exchange comes after the Indian cricket team refused to accept the trophy from Naqvi at the post-match ceremony.

“I have been informed by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) that the Indian cricket team will not be collecting their awards tonight,” said Simon Doull, the presenter for the host broadcaster. “So that does conclude the post-match presentation.”

Naqvi waited on stage for over 45 minutes before leaving with the trophy, while the Indian players celebrated with an imaginary one.

Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav insisted the decision was not politically motivated.

“I think this is one thing which I have never seen since I started playing cricket, started following cricket, that a champion team is denied a trophy, that too a hard-earned one. I feel we deserved it. I can’t say anything more; I’ve summed it up really well. If you tell me about trophies, 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.”

Meanwhile, the whereabouts of the trophy remain unknown.

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Modi likens Asia Cup win to war, Pakistan’s Naqvi hits back