With “instructions that it should not be moved or handed over” without the Chairman Mohsin Naqvi’s consent, the Asia Cup trophy has been locked away at the ACC’s Dubai headquarters. The winning Indian team was not given the trophy after refusing to accept it from Asian Cricket Council chief Naqvi.
After the Indian team refused to accept the trophy from Naqvi, he left with it during the presentation ceremony, and it has since been at the ACC office. On September 28, India defeated Pakistan in the Asia Cup final held in Dubai. In addition, Naqvi serves as his nation’s interior minister and chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
“As of today the trophy is still in ACC offices in Dubai with clear instructions from Naqvi that it should not be moved or handed over to anyone without his approval and in person presence,” a PTI report quoted a source as saying.
“Naqvi has given clear instructions that only he will hand over the trophy in person (whenever that happens) to the Indian team or BCCI,” he added.
Tensions between India and Pakistan peaked in the wake of the April terror attack in Pahalgam. The Indo-Pak conflict took center stage during the Asia Cup. Throughout the competition, players from both teams made fun of one another with politically charged gestures, and the Indians refused to shake hands with their bitter rivals.
Naqvi also posted political remarks on his social media accounts.
When he walked away with the trophy, the BCCI strongly objected and promised to bring up the issue at an ICC meeting in November.
Many people are speculating that a forceful attempt could be made to have Naqvi censured and possibly removed from his position as Director of the ICC.
“It remains to be seen what will be the long term ramifications for the PCB or Naqvi because the BCCI is clear he (Naqvi) didn’t have any right to insist on handing the trophy himself to the Indian team and refusing to send it to the BCCI who were official hosts of the event,” the report added the source as saying.
