Mohsin Naqvi Rejects India’s Request for Asia Cup Trophy Handover

The 2025 Asia Cup continues to dominate headlines across the sporting world, even after its conclusion. The latest chapter in the enduring Pakistan–India cricket saga unfolded in Dubai on Tuesday, where Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi firmly rejected the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) demand to hand over the Asia Cup trophy.

Despite emerging as champions, India was not presented with the silverware after its players refused to accept it from Mohsin Naqvi. In response, the ACC President removed the trophy from the ceremony altogether, a dramatic and unprecedented move in the history of major cricket tournaments.

The matter of the Asia Cup trophy resurfaced during the most recent ACC meeting, chaired by Mohsin Naqvi, where BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla persistently urged the council to transfer the trophy to India. According to local sources, Naqvi dismissed the request, stating that the Asia Cup trophy was not on the meeting’s agenda. He instead added that if India truly wanted the trophy, its captain should personally visit the ACC headquarters to collect it.

This remark reportedly infuriated the Indian delegation, which had joined the meeting virtually. As Naqvi stood firm, BCCI officials proposed that the trophy instead be sent to the ICC headquarters. Tensions escalated until other ACC members intervened to defuse the situation. Nevertheless, the Indian representatives allegedly exited the meeting abruptly, cutting off their digital feed.

This diplomatic row adds yet another layer to an already tumultuous Asia Cup campaign, which was riddled with controversy from start to finish. From Indian players refusing handshakes to their rejection of the trophy presentation and politically charged gestures exchanged between the sides, the 2025 Asia Cup is destined to be remembered for more than just cricket.

For now, the Asia Cup trophy remains in ACC custody. No decision has been made regarding its delivery to India, but the standoff underscores once again how cricket’s fiercest rivalry often spills beyond the boundary ropes, into boardrooms, ceremonies, and diplomatic standoffs.