Pakistan stoops to new low over Asia Cup trophy

Nearly a month after India lifted the Asia Cup 2025 title in Dubai, the champions are yet to touch their own trophy. What began as a standoff between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi has now taken an ugly turn. Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s Interior Minister, continues to keep the Asia Cup trophy locked in his office, insisting that he will only hand it over in a formal ceremony, a demand the BCCI has flatly refused.

Mohsin Naqvi stoops new low

Compounding the controversy, a new video circulating on social media has shown why the PCB chief doesn’t deserve any credit for hosting the Asia Cup 2025. In the clip, a man standing next to Naqvi narrates the Asia Cup trophy incident in highly objectionable terms, praising the ACC chief for allegedly “handling” the Indian team like ‘terrorists’. Crucially, Naqvi also grinned throughout the video, implying that he agrees with whatever is being said.

The man can be heard saying, “Jab ye ground mein khade the aur Indian team trophy nahi le rahi thi, inhone sabr ka muzahira kiya. Khade rahe, khade rahe. Wo chahte the ye agar hat jayenge to hum kisi aur se le lenge. Lekin unko nahi pata tha ke hamara chairman wajir-e-dakhla bhi hai. Unhone team ko baad mein dehshat gardon ki tarah handle kiya, trophy gaadi mein rakh ke saath le aaye. Ab poora India trophy ke peeche bhag raha hai.”

(When he was standing on the ground and the Indian team was not taking the trophy, he demonstrated patience and kept standing. They (the Indian team) wanted him to step aside and let someone else take it. But they did not know that our chairman is also the Interior Minister. He then handled the team like terrorists. He (Naqvi) put the trophy in the car and took it away with him. Now, the whole of India is chasing the trophy.)

Following India’s five-wicket win over Pakistan on September 28 in Dubai, the trophy presentation was delayed by more than 90 minutes, leaving the Indian players stranded on the field while the Pakistani team returned to their dressing room. While the Indian squad accepted individual awards from sponsors, they refused to take the trophy from Naqvi for obvious reasons. Instead, the Indian team celebrated with an imaginary trophy and didn’t even bother.

BCCI vs Mohsin Naqvi: Asia Cup 2025 Timeline

• September 14, 2025
  • India beat Pakistan in the group stage by 7 wickets.
  • No pre- or post-match handshakes from Indian players.
  • PCB protested to the ICC, alleging provocation.
  • BCCI countered with complaints against Pakistani players (Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan) for “insensitive gestures” like mimicking rifle fire.
  • India captain Suryakumar Yadav dedicated the win to victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and the Indian Army, prompting PCB complaints over “political statements”.
• September 17, 2025
  • Pakistan vs UAE group stage match delayed by an hour as PCB threatened to boycott over the handshake controversy and alleged bias by match referee Andy Pycroft.
  • PCB demanded Pycroft’s removal.
  • ICC mediated, confirming Pycroft’s continuation with an apology.
  • Pakistan resumed play after Naqvi confirmed their participation.
• September 21, 2025
  • India met Pakistan again in the Super 4.
  • Both teams refrained from shaking hands; separate presenters questioned the captains.
  • India won by 6 wickets and again refused to shake hands.
• September 28, 2025
  • Pakistan boycotted the pre-final press conference.
  • India defeated Pakistan by 5 wickets in the final.
  • Post-match ceremony delayed by 90 minutes as Indian team refused to accept the trophy and medals from Naqvi, citing his government role and “hostility toward India.”
  • Presentation abruptly ended without Indian awards; Naqvi took the trophy away, calling it “pre-planned unsporting behaviour.”
  • BCCI labeled Naqvi’s actions “unsporting.”
• September 28, 2025 (later the same day)
  • Trophy row escalated.
  • BCCI vowed to protest at the ICC conference, accusing Naqvi of violating the spirit of cricket.
  • ACC deferred resolution to a smaller meeting of Test nations: BCCI, PCB, SLC, ACB, and BCB.
• October 10, 2025
  • Dispute remained unresolved.
  • BCCI prepared to escalate to the ICC as Naqvi refused to send over the trophy.
• October 21, 2025
  • BCCI sent an email to ACC with Sri Lanka and Afghanistan copied.
  • Mohsin Naqvi responded, insisting the Indian board could send a player or official to collect the trophy from the ACC office in Dubai after attending an official ceremony.
  • BCCI refused and prepared to seek ICC intervention at the next meeting.

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