Mohsin Naqvi on Asia Cup 205 Trophy Controversy: The Asia Cup trophy, which was not awarded after Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi refused to accept the winning Indian team, has been locked at the ACC’s Dubai headquarters and “instructions have been given that it should neither be moved nor handed over without the approval of the Chairman”.
After the Indian team refused to accept the trophy, Naqvi walked away with the trophy from the awards ceremony, after which it has been in the ACC office. India defeated Pakistan in the Asia Cup final in Dubai on 28 September.
Naqvi is also the Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Home Minister of his country and tension between India and Pakistan is at its peak after the Pahalgam terrorist attack. “As of today, the trophy is in the ACC office in Dubai and Naqvi has given clear instructions that it should not be transferred or handed over to anyone without his approval and personal presence,” a source close to Naqvi told PTI. He further said, “Naqvi has given clear instructions that only he will personally hand over the trophy (whenever that happens) to the Indian team or BCCI.”
Throughout the tournament, the Indians refused to shake hands with the arch-rivals and players from both sides mocked each other with political gestures. Naqvi also gave political statements on his social media pages.
The BCCI expressed strong objection to his move to walk away with the trophy and promised to raise the issue at the ICC meeting next month. It is being widely speculated that a strong step may be taken to censure Naqvi and remove him from the post of ICC director.
“It remains to be seen what the long-term consequences of this will be for the PCB or Naqvi, as the BCCI is clear that he (Naqvi) had no right to insist on handing over the trophy to the Indian team and refuse to send it to the BCCI, which was the official host of the event,” the source said.