The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) strongly raised objections during the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting on Tuesday, September 30, over the Asia Cup trophy fiasco that followed the final between India and Pakistan. The matter created a stir after the trophy was not formally presented to the Indian team, sparking controversy between the BCCI and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as the ACC chief.
According to reports, BCCI vice president Rajeev Shukla, who represented India in the ACC meeting, directly questioned Naqvi’s role in the Asia Cup trophy fiasco. Rajeev Shukla stressed that the trophy is the official property of the ACC and not of any individual. He also reminded Naqvi that the victorious team deserved a proper handover ceremony. Concerns were raised after it was revealed that the trophy had been taken to Naqvi’s hotel room following the final match.
The exchange reportedly became heated when Mohsin Naqvi argued that he was unfairly portrayed during the presentation. He also remarked that the Indian team had not given any written refusal to accept the trophy from him. However, the BCCI delegation insisted that such explanations were unacceptable and that the matter required immediate resolution.
During the discussion, Naqvi also refrained from congratulating the Indian team for their title victory. The BCCI’s Ashish Shelar intervened and pressed him to formally acknowledge India’s win. While Naqvi eventually issued congratulations, he maintained that the trophy issue would need to be addressed separately.
The BCCI delegation emphasized that the title and trophy must be handed over to India without further delay. They even suggested collecting the trophy directly from the ACC office. Despite repeated appeals, Naqvi did not agree to release the trophy immediately, leaving the issue unresolved.
Frustrated with the lack of cooperation, the BCCI announced its decision to escalate the matter. An official complaint will now be filed with the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding the Asia Cup trophy fiasco. The board has made it clear that the tournament’s trophy belongs to the winning side and that administrative disputes should not overshadow sporting achievements.
The situation highlights the need for clear protocols in major international tournaments to avoid controversies such as the Asia Cup trophy fiasco. The cricketing community will now wait to see how the ACC and ICC respond to this unusual dispute.
No Intention from MOHSIN NAQVI to resolve the matter. An official said, “Naqvi had all the time to talk about everything under the sun, but didn’t acknowledge India winning. It was very strange to see how he conducted himself in the ACC meeting”. (Times of India report).
