Former South African cricketer may be seen on this picture dated April 22, 2025. — Instagram/@abdevilliers17
Former South African batting star AB de Villiers has criticised India’s refusal to simply accept the Asia Cup 2025 trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi, calling it a case of politics intruding into sport.
Talking on his”AB de Villiers 360″ YouTube channel, de Villiers stated the chaotic trophy presentation that adopted India’s Asia Cup victory despatched the incorrect message.
“Team India sort of weren’t happy with who was handing out the trophy. I don’t feel that belongs in sports. Politics should stay aside. Sport is one thing, and it should be celebrated for what it is,” he stated.
“Quite sad to see that, but hopefully they sort things out in the future. It does put the sport, the players, the sportsmen, the cricketers in a very tough position, and that’s what I hate to see. It was quite awkward there at the end.”
The Asia Cup was marked by seen hostility between the Indian and Pakistani groups, with no handshakes exchanged throughout three conferences and a tense environment spilling into medal and trophy protocols.
Earlier, India’s World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev suggested his compatriots to “move on” and “let politicians do their job”
Talking on India At present, Dev, who captained India to World Cup glory in 1983, stated that whereas it was pure for gamers to have emotions for his or her nation, such feelings shouldn’t stop sportsmanship on the sphere.
“Shaking hands is not a big thing. You didn’t shake hands; it does not matter. You have also announced that you don’t want to take the trophy from that man. That’s also fine.”
He added: “But you can’t linger on for this type of thing. You have to finish, you have to move on. Let the government do that job, let the politician do that job.”
