India-Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 Final Controversy Escalates – Trophy Now With UAE Cricket Board
- India is still without the Asia Cup 2025 trophy three days after defeating Pakistan in the final.
- Mohsin Naqvi, ACC chairman and PCB chief, took the trophy and winners’ medals after India refused to accept it.
- Naqvi has now handed the trophy to the UAE Cricket Board, following rising tensions with BCCI.
- India raised concerns about Naqvi’s behavior in a virtual ACC meeting, planning to escalate the matter to the ICC.
- BCCI wants the trophy stored at ACC headquarters in Dubai for collection by the Indian team.
The drama surrounding the Asia Cup 2025 trophy continues, three days after India clinched a thrilling five-wicket victory over Pakistan in the final at Dubai. The Indian cricket team has yet to receive its hard-earned silverware, as tensions over the post-match ceremony have escalated.
The controversy began when ACC chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who is also Pakistan’s interim Interior Minister and PCB chief, insisted on presenting the trophy to the Indian team. India refused to accept the trophy from him due to political sensitivities, leading to an hour-long delay in the presentation. Only individual award winners came forward, while the team ignored the ceremony. Frustrated, Naqvi left with the trophy and the winners’ medals in hand, sparking outrage among fans and officials in India.
Trophy Handover to UAE Cricket Board
According to ZEE News, Naqvi has now handed over the Asia Cup trophy to the UAE Cricket Board, a decision that appears to be a temporary measure to de-escalate tensions. This follows a virtual ACC meeting on September 30, where India raised three major concerns regarding Naqvi’s conduct during the trophy ceremony and his handling of the post-match situation.
The BCCI reportedly criticized Naqvi for not congratulating India and for taking the trophy away, calling his actions inappropriate and unprofessional. India’s representatives, Rajeev Shukla and Ashish Shelar, emphasized that Naqvi’s conduct crossed the boundaries of sportsmanship, leaving the tournament embroiled in controversy.
BCCI Considers Escalation to ICC
With the Asia Cup being an ICC-approved event, the BCCI is reportedly planning to file a formal complaint with the ICC regarding Naqvi’s actions. The board has also requested that the trophy and winners’ medals be stored at ACC headquarters in Dubai, from where the Indian team can safely collect them at a later date.
The ACC reportedly left the final decision over the trophy’s custody to the five Test-playing nations — India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. However, Naqvi offered no concrete solution during the virtual meeting, merely stating that India’s captain could collect the trophy and medals from Dubai if they chose to do so.
Fallout and Public Sentiment
Fans and former players alike have criticized Naqvi for allowing political egos to overshadow the spirit of cricket. The Asia Cup, which had seen tense on-field and off-field drama between India and Pakistan, now faces the unprecedented embarrassment of a delayed trophy presentation.
With only days left before the next ICC events, the cricketing world watches closely to see how the BCCI and ACC will resolve this matter, and whether India will finally receive its Asia Cup 2025 trophy and medals.
