Few episodes in sporting history match the shameless audacity of Pakistan Cricket Board chief Mohsin Naqvi after India’s demolition of Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 final. Like a petulant child throwing a tantrum after losing, Mohsin Naqvi stormed off with the trophy that belonged to India—an act so desperate, it encapsulated everything wrong with Pakistan’s relationship with reality.

Frankly, such deranged behaviour is now routine for Pakistan. Consider the parallels between the Asia Cup finale and Operation Sindoor. Just as Pakistan convinced itself it had “won" the military confrontation despite having its terror camps obliterated, air bases pummelled, and radar installations destroyed, at the Asia Cup too, they clutched at victory from the jaws of comprehensive defeat. The same delusional DNA that runs through Pakistan’s military establishment infects its cricket administration—an inability to accept defeat even when the scorecard screams otherwise.

An Unforgettable Thrashing

India’s dominance in the Asia Cup was nothing short of systematic dismantlement of Pakistan’s egomania. Three encounters, three defeats for Pakistan—by seven wickets in the group stage, six wickets in the Super Four, and five wickets in the final. India’s thrashing left whatever remains of Pakistan’s cricketing pride in tatters. The men in green were outplayed, outthought, and outclassed in every department.

When Tilak Varma sealed the final with his match-winning innings, it marked not just India’s ninth Asia Cup title but the continuation of an 8-0 ODI and 7-1 T20 winning streak against Pakistan in recent encounters. The Pakistani bowling attack was rendered toothless, their batting fragile under pressure, and their fielding ordinary at best. Yet, in the warped worldview that governs Pakistani thinking, this comprehensive defeat needed to be twisted into something resembling victory. And so, Mohsin Naqvi ran away with the Asia Cup trophy like a thief.

The Trophy........

© News18