The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting on Tuesday turned heated as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confronted Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman and ACC chief Mohsin Naqvi regarding the Asia Cup 2025 trophy controversy.
The dispute stems from the dramatic scenes at the Dubai International Stadium on September 28, when India defeated Pakistan by five wickets in the Asia Cup 2025 final. During the post-match presentation, Mohsin Naqvi appeared to walk away with the Asia Cup trophy after the Indian team declined to accept the silverware directly from him. This unprecedented moment delayed the presentation ceremony by more than 45 minutes, leaving fans and players stunned.
Sources revealed that in the ACC board meeting, Naqvi argued he was disrespected and insisted he had no prior communication from BCCI about their refusal. He claimed the incident made him “look like a cartoon” and defended his actions. However, senior BCCI officials Rajeev Shukla and Ashish Shelar strongly countered, stating the Asia Cup trophy belongs to the ACC, not to any individual, and must be handed over to the rightful winner.
The controversy has now been deferred for further discussion at the ICC meeting later this year. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that the board would lodge a strong objection to Naqvi’s behavior. Until a final resolution, the trophy remains under dispute, with calls for it to be sent to the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai.
Adding fuel to the fire, tensions between India and Pakistan were already high throughout the tournament. No handshakes were exchanged between players, and the shadow of political strain loomed large following India’s Operation Sindoor earlier this year. The final only escalated the friction, culminating in the dramatic moment when Naqvi left the stadium with the trophy in hand.
The incident has left cricket fans worldwide questioning the spirit of sportsmanship and governance within the ACC. With India securing the title after Tilak Varma’s match-winning unbeaten 69, the focus should have been on cricketing excellence. Instead, administrative disputes and off-field drama stole the spotlight.
The Asia Cup 2025 controversy is expected to dominate upcoming cricket council meetings, and fans are eagerly waiting to see whether the trophy will finally be placed where it belongs—at the BCCI office in Mumbai.
