Cricket enthusiasts are buzzing with a perplexing question: where is the Asia Cup 2025 trophy? Despite the Indian cricket team’s triumphant victory over Pakistan in the final on September 28th in Dubai, the coveted silverware has yet to be presented to the champions.
According to reports, the trophy is currently held under lock and key at the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) office in Dubai. This unusual situation stems from a controversy involving ACC President Mohsin Naqvi, who also chairs the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
The post-match presentation took an unexpected turn when the Indian team reportedly declined to receive the trophy from Naqvi. Following this, the trophy was removed from the Dubai International Stadium. The ACC office, situated within the ICC Academy complex, now houses the trophy, with strict instructions from Naqvi that it cannot be moved without his personal authorization.
The standoff was a key topic of discussion during the ACC Annual General Meeting in Dubai on September 30th. To address this unresolved matter, the five Test-playing nations under the ACC – India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan – are scheduled to convene in early November.
This upcoming meeting is slated to coincide with the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) quarterly gathering in Dubai, set for November 4th to 7th. However, concerns have been raised regarding Naqvi’s potential absence, as he previously did not attend the ICC Annual Conference in July.
Some ACC members fear that if Naqvi sends a representative instead of attending in person, the deadlock could persist. Should this happen, the trophy might remain sequestered in the ACC office indefinitely, awaiting a consensus among the member boards.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has affirmed its commitment to resolving the situation. BCCI officials have indicated they will determine their course of action as the crucial meeting draws near.
At the heart of the issue is Naqvi’s insistence that the Indian team must personally accept the trophy from him. This condition has led to an unprecedented and rather peculiar situation in international cricket, where a winning team has not yet received its hard-earned championship trophy.