The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has expressed concern over the delay in receiving the Asia Cup trophy, which the Indian men’s team won in Dubai earlier this year. India defeated Pakistan in a pulsating finale but refused to accept the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, who, besides being the head of the Asian Cricket Council, is also the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board. The stance was in line with the Indian team refusing to engage with their Pakistani counterparts following the Pahalgam terror attack earlier this year.
The trophy presentation in Dubai had been delayed by over an hour before the silverware was taken off the field without explanation, leaving the Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian side celebrating their triumph without the trophy in a first
of its kind on a cricket field.
According to BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, the trophy has still not reached the board’s headquarters.
“Ten days ago, we wrote to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Chairperson, requesting that the trophy be handed over to the BCCI at the earliest. However, till today, we have not received it,” Saikia said.
Saikia has stated that he will wait one more day for the trophy to be delivered before approaching the ICC.
“If we do not get the trophy by November 3, a meeting will be held at the ICC headquarters in Dubai, where we will raise our grievance before the apex body of international cricket,” he said.
“We are sure the ICC will do justice and help India get the trophy at the earliest,” he added.
Earlier, Saikia assured that the trophy will be handed over to India.
“On behalf of BCCI, we are fully prepared how to deal with the matter and I can assure the people of India that the trophy will come back to India, only the timeline is not fixed. One day it will come,” Saikia told news agency PTI.
“We have won all matches against Pakistan and won the trophy. We have won the championship. Everything is on record. Only the trophy is missing. I hope good sense will prevail,” he added.
