An incident, coming just days after a contentious post-match ceremony of the Asia Cup 2025 final between India and Pakistan, has reportedly deepened the rift between the cricket boards of India and Pakistan.
Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Mohsin Naqvi’s failure to provide clarity on the delivery of the Asia Cup 2025 trophy and players' medals to India, following their victory over Pakistan in the final on September 28, 2025, has reportedly resulted in a recent skirmish which raised questions about sportsmanship and administrative neutrality in Asian cricket.
It is said that tensions between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the ACC escalated on Wednesday, as BCCI representatives Ashish Shelar and Rajeev Shukla abruptly walked out of an ACC meeting in Dubai. A report by the Indian Express claims, The walkout occurred during a routine ACC executive committee meeting at the council's Dubai headquarters. Shelar, the BCCI's joint secretary, directly confronted Naqvi, who also serves as chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Pakistan's federal interior minister.
Mohsin Naqvi’s opening remarks at the meeting omitted any congratulations to Indian cricket team: Reports
Report further claimed that Mohsin Naqvi’s opening remarks at the meeting notably omitted any congratulations to India for their triumph in the final at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The omission was reportedly perceived as a deliberate snub, breaching unwritten conventions of sports governance. “In his speech, he glossed over India's achievement entirely. It's unbecoming of an ACC president to ignore the continent's most successful team,” the official reportedly stated further, underscoring the growing frustration within BCCI ranks.
The controversy traces its roots to the chaotic conclusion of the Asia Cup final, the post-match presentation, delayed by nearly 90 minutes, turned into a spectacle of diplomatic standoff. India had reportedly pre-emptively informed the ACC that they would not accept the trophy from Naqvi, citing his dual role as a Pakistani political figure amid strained bilateral ties.
The team proposed alternatives, such as receiving it from Emirates Cricket Board vice-chairman Khalid Al Zarooni or Bangladesh Cricket Board representative Aminul Islam, but Mohsin Naqvi reportedly insisted on presenting it himself. As the impasse dragged on, Naqvi was left stranded on stage for over 20 minutes, with Indian players visibly waiting on the outfield rather than retreating to the dressing room. The players eventually mimed lifting an imaginary trophy in celebration, a poignant image that went viral on social media, amassing millions of views and sparking memes mocking Naqvi's exit with the silverware.
