The Asia Cup 2025 trophy saga has escalated into a diplomatic and sporting standoff after Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Mohsin Naqvi refused to hand over the winners’ trophy to Team India, directing captain Suryakumar Yadav to collect it personally from the ACC office in Dubai.
According to Pakistani media outlet Geo Super, Mr Naqvi, who is also Pakistan’s interior minister, rejected repeated requests from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to return the trophy and medals following last Sunday’s dramatic final, which India won against Pakistan in Dubai.
The presentation ceremony descended into chaos after the Indian team declined to receive the trophy from Mr Naqvi, citing political sensitivities and requesting that it be presented instead by Emirates Cricket Board vice-chairman Khalid Al Zarooni. Mr Naqvi refused, and officials later removed the trophy from the stage.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia condemned Mr Naqvi’s actions, calling them “unsportsmanlike” and asserting that “the trophy and medals must be returned immediately.”
The BCCI plans to file an official complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) at its next meeting, reported the Times of India.
During an ACC meeting on Sept 30, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla urged Mr Naqvi to deposit the trophy at the ACC’s Dubai office for collection, but Mr Naqvi reportedly insisted that “India’s captain must come and receive it personally.”, reported India Today.
BCCI officials responded sharply, reminding the ACC chief that the trophy is “not personal property”.
Mr Naqvi later defended himself, telling Pakistani media he “felt like a cartoon” waiting on stage while the Indian team refused to appear. He continues to hold the trophy and medals in his hotel room.
The controversy is the latest flashpoint in already strained India-Pakistan cricketing ties.
Indian players had declined handshakes with Pakistan’s squad throughout the tournament, while Mr Naqvi’s provocative social media posts – including images of fighter jets before the final – further soured relations.
Suryakumar criticised the episode, saying: “I have never seen a champion team denied a trophy. We deserved it.” Teammate Abhishek Sharma added humorously: “We already have one – Surya bhai brought it! We felt its weight.”
With no resolution in sight, the Asia Cup trophy remains in limbo – a symbol of cricket’s continuing entanglement with politics between the two rivals.
