Days after the Asia Cup 2025, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Mohsin Naqvi eventually admitted his mistake and apologised to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the title problem.
However, he has refused to hand over the trophy and medals, insisting that Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav personally pick them up at the ACC office in Dubai. The incident erupted on the night of the final in Dubai, following India’s triumph over Pakistan, but they were left waiting for over an hour because Naqvi insisted on delivering the trophy personally. India had previously stated that it would not accept the cutlery straight from him due to political considerations. The team requested that the Emirates Cricket Board’s vice-chairman, Khalid Al Zarooni, perform the honours.
Mohsin Naqvi wants Suryakumar Yadav to collect trophy in person
Naqvi denied the request, and in reply, the trophy and medals were taken away from the ground. Videos soon circulated of ACC officials rushing the silverware out, while host Simon Doull announced on live broadcast that India would not be receiving their awards. At the ACC meeting in Dubai two days later, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla pressed Naqvi to release the trophy. According to an India Today report, Naqvi apologised for the mismanagement but shifted the blame to India’s refusal to cooperate. He added that if the Men in Blue wanted their prize, captain Suryakumar Yadav must visit the ACC office in person.
Meanwhile, the apology acknowledged the fault in the chaos but not in his decision to withhold the trophy. The PCB chief reportedly told colleagues that he felt made to look like a cartoon by India’s attitude and refused to congratulate the winning team until he was forced to do so by ACC members. This approach triggered BCCI officials further, who reminded him that the trophy was the property of the ACC, not the PCB chairman’s personal possession.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia and vice-president Rajeev Shukla both condemned Naqvi’s behaviour, calling it unsporting and unacceptable. They stressed that India had earned the trophy on the field and demanded its immediate handover. With Naqvi refusing to accept the demand, the BCCI is set to escalate the matter to the ICC at its upcoming meeting in November.
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