The Asia Cup 2025 may have ended with India’s emphatic
win, but the real thriller began after the final ball was bowled. When the time
came for the grand presentation, the Indian team politely declined to accept
the trophy from PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi. Left standing like an uninvited guest
at his own wedding, Naqvi decided to pull off his very own T20 stunt—he scooped
up the trophy and medals and sprinted back to his hotel as though he had just stolen
the last piece of biryani at a banquet.
This was not a mere exit. This was a Great
Escape. Harry Houdini, an American escapologist, illusionist, and
stunt performer – may have freed himself from chains, but Naqvi freed
himself from embarrassment by carrying the hardware to safer territory—his
suitcase. Witnesses swear the trophy is now under tight security in his hotel
wardrobe, sharing space with extra suits and a nervous conscience.
Meanwhile, Team India didn’t miss a beat. They
celebrated with the only trophy that mattered—1.4 billion voices back home
cheering “India India India!” The tricolour became their medal, the streets
their podium, and the collective joy of a nation their ultimate prize. After
all, why bother about a golden cup when your entire country shines brighter?
And if Pakistan thought its sulk in cricket diplomacy
was bad, its humiliation at the UN was an even bigger innings defeat. While
Pakistan’s Prime Minister rehearsed his tired victim-card speech, India’s
Foreign Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar thrashed the propaganda left, right, and
center. There was no “no-ball” in sight—every response was a sixer. The PM was
left ducking bouncers of truth, while Jaishankar kept sending deliveries
straight into the stands of global opinion. By the end, Pakistan wasn’t just
bowled out, it was run out, stumped, and caught behind all at once.
The irony is delicious. Pakistan, which has spent
decades running international propaganda, now literally ran away with the cup.
Perhaps this is their new cricketing strategy: “If you can’t win it, hide
it”. One wonders if Naqvi will now inaugurate a private award ceremony in
his hotel lobby, distributing medals to the bellboy and housekeeping staff just
to feel relevant.
And so, the tale writes itself: India walked away with
glory, Pakistan ran away with cutlery. One will live in the hearts of millions,
the other in the lost-and-found section of a hotel someday.
Sindoor Se Tilak Tak—India’s
victory was painted in sacrifice, pride, and national spirit. And here, Tilak
also definitely means Tilak Varma, the ace batsman who ensured
Pakistan’s bowlers were treated just like cross-border terrorism—hit hard,
dismantled, and sent back in pieces.
(Pavan Kaushik is a renowned Communicator,
Storyteller and Author of book – Gazab Zindagi)
