Post by : Rameen Ariff

The Asia Cup 2025, one of the most controversial editions in the tournament's history, ended with a major diplomatic and cricketing stir. India defeated Pakistan in the final on September 28 in Dubai, but the winners did not receive the Asia Cup trophy in the usual manner due to rising tensions between the two cricketing nations.

The controversy began earlier in the tournament when the Indian cricket team refused to shake hands with Pakistan after a group stage match. The final escalated the situation. Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman and Pakistan's Interior Minister, attempted to present the trophy to India. The Indian team declined to accept it from him, citing political tensions, leading to an unusual situation.

Following the ceremony, the trophy was taken back to the ACC headquarters in Dubai. Sources confirm that it is now locked away with strict instructions that it cannot be moved or handed over without the ACC Chairman’s approval. A source close to Naqvi told news agencies that he has instructed that he alone will hand over the trophy to the Indian team or the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in person whenever that occurs.

The BCCI has expressed strong disapproval of Naqvi’s actions. Officials have indicated that they will raise the issue at the next International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting. Sources suggest that the BCCI may push for Naqvi to face censure or even removal from his ICC director position, arguing that he had no authority to withhold the trophy or insist on presenting it personally.

“The long-term consequences for Naqvi or the PCB remain uncertain, but the BCCI is clear that he overstepped his role by refusing to hand over the trophy to the official host board,” said a BCCI source.

The entire tournament was overshadowed by Indo-Pak hostilities. Both teams avoided customary gestures of sportsmanship, and politically charged exchanges between players were widely reported. Naqvi himself made political comments on social media, further intensifying tensions.

With the trophy still in Dubai, cricket fans and officials are left awaiting a resolution. The situation highlights how political and diplomatic tensions continue to affect the cricketing relationship between India and Pakistan, even in high-profile international tournaments.

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