The Asia Cup trophy controversy continues to escalate, with tensions between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) showing no signs of easing. Ahead of the upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting next month, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has reportedly demanded to personally hand over the Asia Cup trophy to India at a special ceremony in Dubai on November 10.
Mohsin Naqvi’s Proposal to BCCI
Responding to an email sent by BCCI, ACC chief and PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi proposed an official event where Indian representatives and available players could receive the trophy from him as the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President, Pakistan’s Geo News reported.
“If you want the trophy, we can hold a ceremony where you can receive it,” Geo News quoted Naqvi as saying.
Naqvi further clarified, “The ACC trophy rightly belongs to the Indian cricket team and is being held in trust until such time that a BCCI office holder along with any available participating player can collect it from the ACC President.”
He added, “Such collection would, of course, be accompanied with much fanfare and coverage, as there should be no deviation from established practices and no precedent should be set that undermines the spirit of the game we all love.”
Controversy Began After Post-Match Boycott
The dispute traces back to India’s victory in the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 29. Following their win, the Indian men’s cricket team declined to collect the winners’ medals and trophy, sparking an unprecedented standoff. The refusal reportedly stemmed from growing friction between Indian players and the ACC leadership, as the team objected to receiving the trophy from Naqvi, who simultaneously heads the PCB.
The post-match presentation, delayed by nearly an hour, saw only a handful of Indian players — including Kuldeep Yadav, Shivam Dube, and Tilak Varma — come forward to collect individual performance awards. Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha accepted the runners-up cheque on behalf of his side.
Honours Without the Trophy
Kuldeep Yadav was later named the tournament’s top wicket-taker, while young opener Abhishek Sharma earned the Player of the Tournament title for scoring 314 runs in seven innings at an average of 44.85. Despite India’s dominant campaign, the ceremony ended abruptly without the team lifting the trophy. Presenter Simon Doull closed the event stating, “I have been informed by the ACC that the Indian cricket team will not be collecting their awards tonight. That concludes the post-match presentation.”
With the BCCI yet to respond publicly, all eyes are now on whether the proposed Dubai handover ceremony will take place — or if the Asia Cup trophy will continue to symbolize a deeper rift between the two cricketing boards.
