The cricketing world was recently rocked by an unprecedented controversy centered around Mohsin Naqvi, the president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). This incident, which unfolded during the Asia Cup final between India and Pakistan, isn’t the first time Naqvi has made headlines for his divisive actions.
ACC president and PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi during the Asia Cup final. (PTI)
A Series of Off-Field Controversies
Following India’s victory over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 final, the post-match ceremony descended into chaos. The Indian team famously refused to accept the trophy and medals from Mohsin Naqvi, citing his strong anti-India stance and previous provocative remarks. In a shocking move, Naqvi reportedly blocked attempts by the ACC to arrange a neutral presenter, then abruptly left the stadium with the Asia Cup trophy and medals, effectively denying the Indian players and their fans the traditional celebratory moment.
The Indian team was left to celebrate briefly on the field with their families, but without the coveted trophy, an act that sparked widespread outrage and condemnation across the cricketing fraternity. In response, officials from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced their intention to formally protest Naqvi’s actions at the upcoming ICC conference in November, viewing the incident as a deliberate insult and a grave breach of established protocol.
Naqvi’s Controversial Social Media Posts
Mohsin Naqvi and PM Modi (PTI)
The controversy was further fueled by Mohsin Naqvi’s public statements, both during the event and on social media. He publicly responded to a post by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on X (formerly Twitter). Modi’s initial post read, “#OperationSindoor on the games field. Outcome is the same – India wins! Congrats to our cricketers,” a clear reference to the government’s response to the Pahalgam terror attack.
Naqvi retorted with a provocative post of his own: “If war was your measure of pride, history already records your humiliating defeats at Pakistan’s hands. No cricket match can rewrite that truth. Dragging war into sport only exposes desperation and disgraces the very spirit of the game.”
Adding to his string of controversial actions, Naqvi had also posted a video showing Cristiano Ronaldo’s iconic celebration transitioning into imagery of jet crashes. This was widely interpreted as a taunt directed at India’s claims during Operation Sindoor, Pakistan’s assertion of having downed Indian fighter jets after the Pahalgam attack.
Earlier in the tournament, after India’s decision not to shake hands with Pakistani players and coach Mike Hesson, the PCB, under Naqvi’s leadership, threatened to withdraw from the competition. They even caused a one-hour delay to a match against the UAE before tensions were somewhat diffused through back-channel discussions with the ICC. During this heated period, Naqvi had controversially demanded that the ICC charge India captain Suryakumar Yadav for publicly supporting the Indian armed forces in a speech after a league stage match, further inflaming the already strained relations.
Suryakumar Yadav Blasts ACC
Mohsin Naqvi, officials taking the Asia Cup trophy away. Team India mimicked lifting an imaginary trophy after that.
India’s captain, Suryakumar Yadav, did not mince words, publicly criticizing Naqvi’s “childish” antics. He expressed his dismay, stating that no champion team should ever be denied its rightful trophy in such a disrespectful manner. Videos and photographs capturing the entire incident, including Naqvi dramatically leaving with the trophy, quickly went viral across various media platforms, intensifying public scrutiny and amplifying the backlash against his behavior.