At a pivotal meeting of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) in Dubai, the India-Pakistan dispute over the Asia Cup trophy took a dramatic twist. During the gathering, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and ACC Chairman Mohsin Naqvi apologized to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), acknowledging that the occurrences were inappropriate.
...However, despite the apology, he steadfastly refused to award the Asia Cup trophy and medals to BCCI. The issue sparked a fierce debate, with sources indicating tensions ran high. Naqvi challenged BCCI, suggesting that the Indian team captain, Suryakumar Yadav, personally come to Dubai to receive the trophy. BCCI retorted, questioning, 'Why would he collect it now, when he didn’t do so before?'
Revelations from the meeting confirm that Naqvi apologized yet remained firm in his stance on withholding the trophy and medals. This has amplified the echo of the Asia Cup 2025 trophy controversy in the cricketing world.
Mohsin Naqvi will travel to Lahore today, but the aftermath of this dispute will continue to resonate among media and fans for days. Insiders revealed that there are divisions within the ACC concerning the issue, and several senior officials attempted to calm both parties during the meeting.
Read more: 'Why wasn't the Asia Cup trophy handed over?' Rajeev Shukla questions, Naqvi responds - I stood there like a cartoon
In the Asia Cup 2025 final, under the captaincy of Suryakumar Yadav, the Indian team triumphed over Pakistan by 5 wickets to secure the title. The post-match scene, however, left everyone astounded. The Indian team celebrated their victory but without the trophy. The team outrightly refused to accept the trophy from PCB and ACC Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
Subsequently, Mohsin Naqvi returned to his hotel with the trophy. The Indian players had already made it clear they would not accept the trophy from Naqvi and preferred it be presented by the Vice-Chairman of the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB). However, Naqvi declined this suggestion.
Despite their win, the Indian players waited for nearly an hour, eventually returning to the dressing room without the trophy — an incident that has become a major talking point in the cricket world.
Naqvi should resign from either PCB Chairman or Interior Minister role
Meanwhile, Pakistan cricket legend Shahid Afridi issued a public message to PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, advising him to manage either PCB or Pakistan’s Interior Ministry, as the "Men in Green" need complete focus and time.
Afridi stated, 'Both roles are of utmost importance and carry significant responsibilities. PCB and the Interior Ministry are entirely different sectors, hence should be managed separately. Pakistan cricket warrants dedicated attention and time. Naqvi cannot fully rely on advisers. His current advisers aren’t providing the direction needed, and Naqvi himself admits he doesn’t possess comprehensive cricket knowledge. He must appoint competent and experienced advisers who are well-versed in the game.'
