The Asia Cup trophy controversy escalated recently when former Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Yousuf publicly threw his support behind Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi. The dispute began after Team India reportedly refused to accept the trophy from Naqvi following their victory in the Dubai final.
The incident unfolded when Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s interior minister and is known for his strong anti-India political views, reportedly walked away with the Asia Cup trophy after Pakistan’s defeat. This left the Indian team without the customary trophy presentation and winners’ medals, sparking a heated debate across the cricketing world.
Naqvi has since doubled down on his position, stating that he is still prepared to hand over the trophy to India, but only if they come to the ACC office to collect it. Supporting this firm stance, Yousuf expressed his views on Samaa TV, stating, “What Chairman Sir (Mohsin Naqvi) is doing is absolutely right. He has taken the correct stand. India should have taken the trophy at that moment. According to ACC and ICC rules, he was standing there as ACC chief, and the trophy should have been handed through his hands only.”
The former Pakistan batsman was particularly harsh in his critique of the Indian players, accusing them of prioritizing dramatics over the essence of the game. “At the ground, you were busy making your films. I said it that day too — they are not coming out of the filmy world. This is cricket, not movies. In movies, there are retakes, but here you are playing a genuine sport,” Yousuf remarked.
He further stressed that Naqvi’s decision was rooted in national dignity rather than personal sentiment: “Whatever he is doing for the respect of Pakistan, he is doing right, and we are with him.”
As neither cricketing board shows signs of backing down, the Asia Cup trophy controversy appears far from reaching a swift resolution.