‘Both trophies to come’: BCCI big update on Asia Cup trophies India refused to take Naqvi

Indian women’s cricket team and Mohsin Naqvi The Asia Cup trophies won by the Indian men’s and women’s teams remain in Dubai, but BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has assured that both pieces of silverware will eventually reach the board’s headquarters in Mumbai.Saikia confirmed the development after the BCCI’s 95th annual general meeting in Mumbai on Friday, though he paused on when the trophies would arrive. The men’s and women’s teams refused to receive the Asia Cup trophy from Asian Cricket Council president Mohsin Naqvi, leaving the silverware at the ACC headquarters in Dubai.“The Asia Cup trophies, we hope it will come one day,” Saikia said after the BCCI’s 95th annual general meeting in Mumbai on Friday.“I won’t give you a timeline but I can assure you that both the trophies will come and land at this BCCI headquarters at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai,” he added.The latest development follows the Indian women’s team refusing to attend the trophy presentation after defeating Sri Lanka in the final of the Women’s T20 Asia Cup last week. Harmanpreet Kaur’s team did not turn up for the ceremony with Naqvi on stage, while a similar situation took place after the Indian men’s team won the Asia Cup last year.The women’s team instead did their own medal presentation after the final, with BCCI secretary Saikia and vice president Rajeev Shukla presenting Nandni Sharma with the medal in the field. At an official ceremony later, Naqvi presented Sri Lanka with a runner-up cheque.Saikia had already made BCCI’s position clear a day after the women’s final, describing the decision not to accept the trophy from Naqvi as a “firm institutional decision”.“Our position was conveyed to the ACC in advance that the Indian team would not participate in the presentation of the trophy under the circumstances. Given the circumstances and the mood prevailing in the country, the BCCI felt that it would not be appropriate for the team to receive the trophy in the manner proposed,” Saikia told news agency PTI.“It was a firm institutional decision that reflected the position we maintained and was not targeted at the players, the tournament or the sport,” he added.The issue could have ramifications beyond the Asia Cup, with India and Pakistan competing at the Asian Games in Japan. The Asian Games cricket tournament is held under the ACC, with both Indian teams among the contenders for the gold. Therefore, the possibility of Naqvi’s participation in the medal presentation could become another point of attention.Saikia’s latest comments also come as Naqvi’s current term as ACC president approaches its scheduled end in April 2027. Whether he gets an extension will depend on the support of ACC members.The strained cricketing relationship between India and Pakistan has remained evident since the Pahalgam terror attack, with players from both teams refusing to shake hands in subsequent encounters.