The ongoing India–Pakistan cricket rivalry has taken a dramatic turn off the field as the Asia Cup 2025 trophy remains locked inside the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) headquarters in Dubai. According to reports, ACC Chairman and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Mohsin Naqvi has given strict orders that the trophy is not to be moved or handed over to anyone without his personal authorization.
The Asia Cup 2025 final, which took place on September 28, ended with India defeating Pakistan in a tense and politically charged match. However, what should have been a routine post-match ceremony turned into a diplomatic controversy. Sources reveal that Naqvi personally removed the trophy from the presentation stage after Indian players declined to receive it directly from him, reportedly due to strained relations between the two nations.
A close source to Naqvi stated that the trophy remains secured in Dubai, emphasizing, “The Asia Cup trophy will only be handed to the Indian team or BCCI representatives by Naqvi himself, whenever that happens.” His decision has reportedly caused unease within cricketing circles, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) expected to raise the issue at the upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting.
The controversy comes against a backdrop of heightened India–Pakistan tensions, following a terror attack in Pahalgam that overshadowed the tournament. During the Asia Cup, both teams avoided traditional gestures such as post-match handshakes, and officials exchanged political remarks on and off the field.
The BCCI is likely to pursue formal action, possibly urging the ICC to censure or remove Naqvi from his director position. His actions—locking the Asia Cup trophy and withholding its handover—have been interpreted by many as a diplomatic snub that further complicates sporting relations between the two cricket giants.
The trophy saga has become a symbol of how sports diplomacy, politics, and national pride intertwine in the modern cricket landscape, turning what should have been a moment of celebration into a headline-making standoff.