The dispute over the Asia Cup trophy continues to simmer, with Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi extending an open invitation to the Indian team to collect their winning trophy from his office in Dubai. This move comes amidst swirling controversy following the final match on September 28, 2025, where India emerged victorious.
In a recent post on ‘X’, Naqvi categorically denied reports suggesting he had apologized to officials from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) during the ACC Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Tuesday, September 30. These reports stemmed from an incident at the presentation ceremony where Naqvi reportedly walked away with the trophy after the Indian team declined to accept it from him.
Notably, Mohsin Naqvi also serves as the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and holds the position of interior minister in Pakistan, a role that has seen him adopt a strong anti-India political stance.
“As ACC President, I was ready to hand over the trophy that very day and I am still ready now. If they truly want it, they are welcome to come to the ACC office and collect it from me,” he asserted in his social media post.
He further clarified, “Let me make it absolutely clear: I have done nothing wrong and I have never apologised to the BCCI nor will I ever do so.”
During the ACC AGM, BCCI representatives Ashish Shelar and Rajeev Shukla voiced significant objections regarding the failure to properly hand over the trophy to the Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian squad, who had triumphed over Pakistan in the final.
Despite Naqvi’s earlier indication to BCCI officials at the AGM that he was prepared to present the trophy to the Indian team, no resolution was reached on the matter during the meeting. This lack of decision has reportedly further displeased the BCCI leadership.
The BCCI now intends to escalate the issue to the International Cricket Council (ICC), with a meeting scheduled for November.
Throughout the Asia Cup tournament, India and Pakistan clashed three times, with India securing victory in all encounters, including the crucial final. The tournament also saw India implement a ‘no handshake policy’ with Pakistani players, a stance that reportedly angered the PCB.