The dispute surrounding the Asia Cup trophy, which India opted not to accept at the recent closing ceremony due to tensions with Pakistan, remains unresolved. Reports from Indian media sources indicate that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made efforts to coordinate with Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Mohsin Naqvi for the trophy handover.
Naqvi, who is also the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), stated in Karachi that the ACC has notified the BCCI of a formal trophy presentation scheduled for November 10 in Dubai. This event will provide an official opportunity for India to receive the trophy.
As the head of the ACC, Naqvi is reportedly eager to personally present the trophy, aiming to address the controversial aftermath of the Asia Cup final between India and Pakistan. Following India’s narrow victory over Pakistan in the final match, tensions rose during the trophy presentation when the Indian team declined to accept the trophy from Naqvi, reflecting the strained relations between the two countries.
In response, Naqvi had previously invited India to collect the trophy from the ACC office. Recent reports from the Press Trust of India (PTI) revealed that the cricket boards of Afghanistan and Sri Lanka have backed the BCCI’s request for the trophy handover.
Despite Naqvi’s insistence that a BCCI representative must collect the trophy directly from him in Dubai, the Indian board has rejected this condition. The issue is expected to be addressed at the upcoming ICC meeting, as per PTI sources.
Furthermore, BCCI officials, including secretary Jay Shah and ACC representative Rajeev Shukla, along with representatives from Sri Lanka Cricket and Afghanistan Cricket Board, jointly appealed to Naqvi to resolve the situation and facilitate the trophy handover.