The controversy surrounding the Asia Cup trophy shows no signs of settling. A major disagreement has flared up between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) just weeks before a crucial International Cricket Council meeting. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi is firm on his stance: he wants to personally hand over the Asia Cup trophy to India during a special ceremony in Dubai on November 10.
According to GEO News, Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi sent a sharply worded email to the BCCI. In his message, he suggested a formal event where BCCI officials and any available Indian players could accept the trophy directly from him in his capacity as ACC President. Naqvi’s email reportedly stated, ‘If you want the trophy, we can hold a ceremony where you can receive it.’ He emphasized that the ACC trophy rightfully belongs to the Indian team and is currently being held in trust. He stressed that a formal collection, complete with fanfare and media attention, should uphold established traditions and avoid setting any precedents that could diminish the integrity of the sport.
The root of this disagreement traces back to September 29, when the Indian men’s cricket team reportedly refused to accept their winners’ medals and the trophy after their victory in the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Reports indicate that this refusal was a direct result of underlying tensions between the Indian team and the ACC, particularly with its President, Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as the chief of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
During the post-match presentation, which was notably delayed by almost an hour, only a handful of Indian players—Kuldeep Yadav, Shivam Dube, and Tilak Varma—came forward to collect their individual performance accolades. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s captain, Salman Ali Agha, received the cheque for the runners-up. Kuldeep Yadav was subsequently recognized as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker, and opening batsman Abhishek Sharma was named Player of the Tournament for his impressive 314 runs across seven innings, maintaining an average of 44.85.
Despite these individual accolades, the ceremony ended without the Indian team physically receiving the winner’s trophy. Presenter Simon Doull confirmed the situation by 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.’