Mohsin Naqvi continues to play dirty, holds Asia Cup trophy locked
The Asia Cup 2025 champions are yet to receive their deserved reward, the trophy. Mohsin Naqvi, the current chairman of the Asian Cricket Council and the Pakistan Cricket Board, seems intent on stretching the debacle to the best of his abilities. The India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 final was followed by significant drama, consistent with the hostility maintained by the arch-rivals throughout the tournament. The Men in Blue refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy from Naqvi, who then ran away with the silverware. Weeks after the conclusion of India’s unbeaten run, the trophy continues to evade the team’s grasp at the behest of the Pakistani minister.
Mohsin Naqvi orders that the Asia Cup trophy be kept away from India, the Asia Cup 2025 champions
The ongoing dispute between India and Pakistan over the Asia Cup trophy shows no sign of easing. Despite the Asia Cup 2025 concluding last month, with the Men in Blue edging out the arch-rivals in the India vs Pakistan final, the controversy continues to dominate headlines. The coveted trophy, which should have been presented to the Indian side following their victory, reportedly remains locked away inside the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) headquarters in Dubai. The silverware is reportedly kept there under strict orders from ACC Chairman and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi.
Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s Interior Minister, allegedly removed the trophy from the presentation stage after India’s players declined to accept it from him during the post-match ceremony after winning the India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 final. The refusal came against the backdrop of heightened political tension between the two countries following Pahalgam terror attack, which had already strained the diplomatic and sporting relationship during the Asia Cup.
"As of today, the trophy is still in ACC offices in Dubai with clear instructions from Naqvi that it should not be moved or handed over to anyone without his approval and in-person presence," a source revealed recently. "Naqvi has given clear instructions that only he will hand over the trophy in person (whenever that happens) to the Indian team or BCCI," the source added.
The incident has further intensified the already hostile atmosphere surrounding the tournament, which was marked by friction between the two cricketing giants. Throughout the event, Indian players notably refrained from customary handshakes with their Pakistani counterparts, and both teams were seen making subtle, and sometimes overt, political gestures on the field.
Adding to the discord, Mohsin Naqvi drew criticism for a series of politically loaded posts shared on social media during the tournament, a move that, according to reports, did not sit well with the BCCI. His decision to personally remove the Asia Cup trophy from the stage without permitting an Indian official or BCCI representative to receive it has escalated the situation into a full-blown diplomatic and cricketing flashpoint.
Sources suggest that the BCCI intends to formally address the issue at the upcoming ICC board meeting. The discussion may reportedly include demands for disciplinary action against Naqvi, including a possible censure or even his removal from the ICC Board of Directors.
