Amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the champions’ denial of the top prize, Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said Wednesday that the Indian team is “welcome” to pick up the Asia Cup trophy from him at the continental body’s head office in Dubai.
In an X post, Naqvi denied rumors that he apologized to BCCI officials at the ACC AGM on Tuesday for his behavior during the Sunday presentation ceremony, where he left with the trophy after the Indians refused to accept it.
Naqvi, who has a strong anti-Indian political stance, serves as both the interior minister and head of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
“As ACC President, I was ready to hand over the trophy that very day and I am still ready now. If they truly want it, they are welcome to come to the ACC office and collect it from me,” he wrote.
“Let me make it absolutely clear: I have done nothing wrong and I have never apologised to the BCCI nor will I ever do so,” he added.
In their representation of the BCCI at the ACC AGM, Ashish Shelar and Rajeev Shukla voiced their extreme disapproval of the trophy not being given properly to the Suryakumar Yadav-led team that defeated Pakistan in the championship match.
Naqvi was prepared to present the trophy to the Indian team, he had informed the BCCI executives on Tuesday. But the AGM failed to make a decision on that matter, which further displeased the BCCI’s high echelon.
When the ICC meets in November, the BCCI will bring up the issue.
Throughout the competition, the two teams faced off three times, with India emerging victorious in each match, including the championship game. During the event, India infuriated the PCB by maintaining a “no handshake policy” with Pakistani players.
Following the Pahalgam terror attack, in which terrorists supported by Pakistan shot and killed 26 Indian tourists, tensions between the two neighbors have reached an all-time high.
After that, India began ‘Operation Sindoor’ to destroy the infrastructure supporting terrorism on the other side of the border.
