Dubai/New Delhi, September 30: Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has sparked another row by reportedly laying down a condition for returning the Asia Cup 2025 trophy and winners’ medals to Team India.
According to a Cricbuzz report, Naqvi has informed the organisers that Suryakumar Yadav and his players will receive the silverware only if a formal ceremony is arranged, where he gets the opportunity to hand it over personally.
The unusual demand follows Sunday’s final in Dubai, where India defeated Pakistan by five wickets in the final of the continental tournament. Despite Naqvi’s presence on the presentation stage, the Indian team refused to accept the trophy directly from him, insisting it be awarded by a neutral official.
In response, the ACC chief walked off the stage, carrying both the trophy and medals back to his hotel room.
Two days later, the Indian team has already returned home however, the trophy remains with Naqvi. With political relations between India and Pakistan already tense, the prospect of arranging a separate function for the handover appears unlikely.
Earlier, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia had strongly criticised Naqvi’s conduct, describing it as “very unfortunate and unsporting.” He confirmed that the Indian board has reported the matter to the International Cricket Council (ICC) and will push for action.
“We are not going to accept the trophy from the ACC chairman, who is one of Pakistan’s political leaders. That does not mean he can take the trophy and medals away. We will raise a very strong protest during the ICC conference in November,” Saikia told ANI.
The standoff has left Asia Cup 2025 champions India still waiting for their silverware, with the matter now set to spill over to the ICC’s global forum.
