Controversy surrounding PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi and the Asia Cup trophy shows no signs of abating (Images via AP) The dispute over the 2025 Asia Cup trophy continues to dominate the headlines almost a month after India defeated Pakistan by five wickets in the final at the Dubai International Stadium on September 28. Despite India’s victory, the team is yet to “lift” the trophy, which has now reportedly been moved from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) headquarters in Dubai to an undisclosed location in Abu Dhabi.
Details on how PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi ran away with the Asia Cup trophy!
To add fuel to the fire, it is understood that the trophy is still in the custody of Mohsin Naqvi, Pakistan’s interior minister and head of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). A BCCI official who visited the ACC headquarters recently was informed that the trophy has been removed and is in Naqvi’s possession. Earlier this month, Naqvi had set conditions for its return and suggested that India collect it from him personally. He later offered to host the 2025 Asia Cup trophy ceremony for India, but insisted that an Indian official attend the presentation. Despite a formal letter from the BCCI demanding a handover, Naqvi is sticking to his position. The post-match presentation was delayed by 90 minutes after India refused to accept the trophy on the podium, leading to the silverware being removed without explanation.Meanwhile, a viral clip from Pakistan hailed Naqvi for his handling of the situation and portrayed him as a “hero” who stood firm while the Indian team initially refused to accept the trophy. In the video, a man on stage said, “Jab ye ground mein khade the aur the Indian team didn’t win the trophy, they showed patience… Now poor India is running in front of the trophy.” Pakistani media and social platforms hailed the incident as a moment of authority and national pride, emphasizing that Naqvi eventually won the trophy. The Indian players, including Tilak Varma, later revealed that they had improvised their own celebrations to maintain team spirit. At the Breakfast of Champions, Tilak said, “We actually waited at the ground for one hour… Arshdeep said, let’s create an atmosphere – we will celebrate like after the T20 World Cup in 2024, only without the trophy.” Despite the celebratory mood in Pakistan, the incident sparked criticism in India, where the champions’ success on the field has been overshadowed by long-running trophy disputes.
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The handover could not be resolved at the ACC meeting in late September, leaving the 2025 Asia Cup triumph symbolically incomplete for India. The Asia Cup trophy saga remains unresolved, with cross-border tensions and political tug-of-war continuing to overshadow the victory in Dubai, nearly a month on.
