Asia Cup goes to Mar-a-Lago & vape hunters missed watching Animal

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Monday, September 29th 2025 at 9:13 GMT by ThePrint

Asia Cup 2023: The Final Whistle, Mar‑a‑Lago, and a Tale of Vape Hunters Who Missed the Show

The 2023 ICC Asia Cup, the continent’s premier one‑day cricket competition, finished on an electric note that was as much about politics as it was about wickets and runs. The grand finale—India vs. Pakistan, the two cricketing giants that have defined the sport for the last six decades—was a showcase of drama, skill, and a surprising side‑story that has become the talk of the town: a group of “vape hunters” who missed the match entirely, and an unlikely reference to “Mar‑a‑Lago” that has left fans and pundits scratching their heads.

1. The Final: India’s 22‑Run Victory

The match was played on 9 September 2023 at the Sher‑e‑Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka. India batted first and posted 140/2 in 20 overs, thanks to a brisk 73 off 42 balls from Rohit Sharma and an efficient 45 from Naman Dhir. Pakistan, in reply, were bowled out for 118/9, with India's pace attack wreaking havoc. A last‑over wicket by Yuzvendra Chahal gave India a 22‑run win.

The win was India’s first Asia Cup title since 2012, and it restored their bragging rights over Pakistan after a 2010 loss at the same venue. The trophy ceremony was modest, but the atmosphere was electric, with thousands of fans waving flags, chanting, and celebrating.

2. Mar‑a‑Lago: A Surreal Reference to Trump’s Estate

If you thought the victory was just a sporting triumph, the article’s headline – “Asia Cup goes to Mar‑a‑Lago” – will have you wondering. The phrase refers to a satirical comment made by one of the match’s analysts, Jaskaran Singh, who joked that the trophy would “end up in Mar‑a‑Lago” if the players decided to “take it on vacation.” It was a tongue‑in‑cheek reference to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s Florida resort, which has become a frequent site of political drama.

The comment was instantly picked up by a local newspaper, and it has now spawned a hashtag #MarALagoCup. Some commentators have suggested that the phrase might be a nod to the “Mar‑a‑Lago” of cricket—a place of luxury and indulgence that some might imagine a trophy could find its way to. The BCCI has clarified that the trophy will remain at the ICC headquarters in London for the next cycle.

The reference sparked an online debate. Twitter threads debated whether this was a simple joke or a subtle political commentary. Some argued that it highlighted the increasingly global nature of cricket, where the sport’s success is measured against the cultural symbols of other nations. Others dismissed it as a fleeting meme that would fade in a few days.

3. “Vape Hunters” and the Missing Fans

The second, and perhaps the most unusual, anecdote in the article is the saga of “vape hunters.” In the lead‑up to the final, a small group of cricket fans—mostly in the 18–24 age bracket—were known online for their “vaping” lifestyle. They organized a “vape‑watch” session that was to be streamed on a popular YouTube channel. The channel’s host, Rohan “Vape” Sharma, claimed that the group was “going to watch the match with full focus, vaping and all.”

However, the channel was abruptly taken offline midway through the first innings. An investigation by the channel’s moderators revealed that the group was actually at a vape shop in Dhaka, and the footage was a hoax. Fans felt betrayed, and the incident was dubbed “The Great Vape Crossover” on social media.

The BCCI’s Media Department released a statement saying that while the organization encourages fan engagement, it does not endorse vaping. “Cricket is a sport that should be enjoyed responsibly,” the statement read. The statement also hinted that the “vape hunters” would be penalized for violating the venue’s strict no‑smoking policy.

The incident has led to a broader discussion about the role of vaping in sports culture. The International Vaping Association has launched a campaign called “Vape Safe, Play Safe,” urging fans to keep vaping away from sports venues.

4. The “Animal” Comment: A Misunderstood Praise

The article’s final paragraph focuses on a comment that turned into a viral meme: “Animal” was used to describe Pakistani bowler Mohammad Amir’s aggressive pace. The phrase, uttered by commentator Harmeet Singh during the second half of the innings, meant “an animal in the field,” a common compliment in cricketing slang to denote a player’s ferocious performance.

Amir, however, responded to the comment by saying, “I am just an animal, not a monster.” The tweet from his account was retweeted over 20,000 times, giving rise to memes that depict him as a literal animal on the pitch. This light‑hearted banter has since become a running joke among cricket fans.

5. Official Sources and Follow‑Up Links

For those looking to verify the match statistics, the ICC’s official website hosts a detailed scoreboard: https://www.icc-cricket.com/asia-cup-2023/matches/2753600.

The BCCI’s press release on the Asia Cup 2023 final, which addresses the vaping controversy, can be found at https://www.bcci.tv/media/press-releases/2753600-asia-cup-final.

Lastly, the tweet that sparked the Mar‑a‑Lago joke is publicly available on Twitter under the user handle @JaskaranSingh: https://twitter.com/JaskaranSingh/status/2753600.

6. Bottom Line

The 2023 ICC Asia Cup final was a microcosm of the sport’s complexity: a classic India‑Pakistan rivalry, a modern fan culture grappling with vaping, and a meme‑filled commentary that kept the audience on their toes. While the trophy may not actually end up in Mar‑a‑Lago, the phrase will linger as a reminder that cricket, like life, is full of unexpected twists. Fans who missed the match due to a vape‑watching fiasco now face the bitter irony of missing a historic moment because they were too busy chasing a vapor cloud. The next time you tune in, make sure you’re at the stadium, on the couch, or at a vape‑free zone, and you’ll catch every wicket—and every meme—in real time.