Mohsin Naqvi, the head of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the head of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), has deposited the Asia Cup trophy at the ACC office. After the Asia Cup final on Sunday, September 28th, the Indian team refused to accept the trophy from Naqvi. Instead of having another ACC official hand it over to the team, Naqvi took it with him to the hotel. He insisted that he would hand it over to the Indian team. Two days later, on Tuesday, the ACC’s annual meeting was held. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) asked Naqvi to return the trophy as soon as possible. NDTV, citing sources, reported that Indian officials warned Naqvi that if he did not do so, he could be impeached and removed from his position as ACC chief. Following this, Naqvi deposited the trophy. A decision on how the trophy will be returned to India is still pending. Naqvi had said, “I was standing like a cartoon.” On Tuesday, the BCCI strongly protested the ACC’s Annual General Meeting for not presenting the trophy to India despite being crowned champions. Naqvi clarified that he had not been informed in writing that the Indian team would not accept the trophy. Naqvi said, “I was standing there like a cartoon for no reason.” On September 29, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia said he would raise the issue at the ICC meeting in November. PCB Chief Said, “The Indian captain should come to my office and collect the trophy.”
Pakistani Home Minister Mohsin Naqvi wrote on X, “The Indian team can come to my office and collect the Asia Cup trophy. I apologized to the BCCI at the ACC’s Annual General Meeting; such reports are false. I did nothing wrong and I never apologized to the BCCI, nor will I ever apologize. As ACC President, I was ready to present the trophy on the day of the final and I still am.” If they really want, they can come to the ACC office and take the trophy.
What happened in the ACC AGM? Apart from Rajiv, BCCI’s Ashish Shelar was also present in this meeting. Both were connected to the meeting through video conferencing. Impeachment can be brought against Naqvi BCCI officials have also warned of bringing impeachment against Naqvi in the Asian Cricket Council. Board officials say that Naqvi did not do his work properly. As ACC chief, he does not get the right to take the trophy with him. If BCCI brings impeachment and most of the ACC members vote in its favor, then Naqvi will have to resign. However, a final decision has not been taken on whether impeachment will be brought or not. Team India returned without the trophy after winning the Asia Cup India defeated Pakistan by 5 wickets in the final held on 28 September. After receiving the individual awards at the post-match presentation, ACC chief Mohsin Naqvi wanted to present the winning trophy to the Indian team and medals to the players. He is also Pakistan’s Home Minister, so the Indian players refused to accept the award from him. Captain Suryakumar Yadav then celebrated the final victory without the trophy. On September 29, the team returned to India without the trophy. Three controversies had erupted in the tournament even before the final.
The trophy controversy after the final was the fourth chapter of controversies in this tournament. Three other controversies had occurred before this. The first controversy: The two captains did not shake hands.
On September 14, during the league match, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav refused to shake hands with Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha during the toss. Following this, the Indian players returned to the pavilion even after winning the match. In protest, the Pakistani team canceled the post-match conference. Second Controversy: Pakistani Team Refuses to Play, Arrives an Hour Late
Following the handshake controversy, the Pakistan Cricket Board complained to referee Andy Pycroft. This had no effect. Consequently, the PCB insisted on Pycroft’s removal and threatened to withdraw from the Asia Cup. Consequently, the Pakistani team arrived an hour late for their match against the UAE on September 17th. The matter was resolved after ICC intervention, and the Pakistan team agreed to play the match. A statement issued by the PCB stated that Pycroft apologized to the Pakistan captain, coach, and manager. Third Controversy: Rauf’s Gesture, Also Clashes with Abhishek and Gill
In the Super Four match against India, Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf was standing near the boundary when Indian fans taunted him with chants of “Kohli, Kohli.” In response, Rauf made a 6-0 gesture with his fingers. This gesture was related to the four-day conflict on the India-Pakistan border in May during Operation Sindoor, in which Pakistan claimed to have shot down six Indian fighter jets, a claim never proven. Rauf’s gesture quickly went viral on social media, and Indian fans criticized and trolled him for his actions. India defeated Pakistan three times in the Asia Cup.
The Indian and Pakistani teams clashed three times in this Asia Cup. India won all three matches but did not shake hands with Pakistani players even once. The team defeated Pakistan by seven wickets in the league match on September 14, by six wickets in the Super-4 on September 21, and by five wickets in the final played on September 28. ——————
