Team Pakistan return from Dubai after Asia Cup defeat to arch-rivals India

Pakistan’s national cricket team returned home late last night following their participation in the T20 Asia Cup. Players landed at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport on a flight from Dubai.

Those who arrived in Lahore included captain Salman Ali Agha, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, and Salman Mirza.

In the tournament’s historic final, the first Pakistan-India title clash in the Asia Cup’s 41-year history, India defeated Pakistan by five wickets in Dubai to lift the trophy for a record ninth time.

Pakistan, batting first after losing the toss, were bowled out for 146 runs. India successfully chased the target in the final over, finishing at 147 for five.

The Asia Cup concluded on a controversial note. The closing ceremony took a dramatic turn when ACC Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, after waiting an hour and a half, announced that the Indian team would not be handed the trophy.

The Indian players, who had earlier refused to shake hands, left the venue late at night visibly dejected and without the silverware. On Naqvi’s directive, the trophy and medals were withheld, leaving the Indian squad to return to their hotel empty-handed.

Read: ACC refuses to give trophy to India after controversial conduct

In a further departure from protocol, the post-match press conference, which usually begins within 15 to 20 minutes of international fixtures, was delayed for over three hours. By the time it began, midnight had already passed.

Adding to the controversy, Indian journalists, acting more like ruling party loyalists, dominated the questioning, while Pakistani reporters were largely ignored. Even the few questions allowed from the Pakistani side went unanswered by the Indian captain.