By Zainab Shafiq 
The Asia Cup 2025 controversy refuses to die down. What began as a trophy handover row after India’s five-wicket win over Pakistan in the Dubai final has now turned into a diplomatic tug of war inside the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). According to reports, BCCI representatives ensured that ACC chairman Mohsin Naqvi was compelled to formally congratulate India on their triumph, despite his reluctance to do so at the post-match presentation.
BCCI Pushes Back at ACC Meeting
On Tuesday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officially raised its objections in the ACC board meeting. The Indian contingent, led by BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla and ex-treasurer Ashish Shelar, strongly protested against Naqvi’s handling of the trophy ceremony.
CNN-News18 revealed that Shukla and Shelar pressed Naqvi to extend congratulations to Team India for their victory. They also demanded that the Asia Cup trophy be submitted immediately to the ACC headquarters in Dubai, warning that the issue could be escalated to the International Cricket Council (ICC) if left unresolved.
Shukla, who serves as an Executive Board Member, and Shelar, an Ex-Officio Member on the ACC board, made India’s position clear: the trophy and medals belong to the players, not to an official attempting to politicise cricket.
Walkout in Protest
Tensions grew further when Ashish Shelar staged a boycott midway through the meeting as a show of defiance against the ACC chief. This move underscored India’s discontent with how Naqvi has managed his dual role as ACC chairman and Pakistan Cricket Board chief.
The BCCI has accused Naqvi of taking “personal possession” of the Asia Cup trophy, a charge that stems from his decision to walk away with the silverware after the final’s chaotic presentation.
How the Controversy Started
The flashpoint came on September 28, when India clinched a five-wicket victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in Dubai. As per ACC tradition, the chairman is expected to present the trophy to the winners. However, India made it clear that they would not accept the silverware from Naqvi, who also holds the position of Pakistan’s Interior Minister.
Indian officials cited Naqvi’s history of controversial remarks and his anti-India stance as reasons for refusing him the honour. Alternatives were proposed: Emirates Cricket Board president Khalid Al Zarooni or Bangladesh’s Aminul Islam could step in to present the trophy. But Naqvi, according to sources, refused all compromises and insisted that only he would do the honours.
What followed was unprecedented. The Indian team staged a protest by walking away from the stage without the trophy, while Naqvi left with the silverware in hand. Fans mocked the bizarre scene, as Suryakumar Yadav and teammates later celebrated with imaginary trophies and even coffee mugs on social media.
Naqvi’s Stance and Next Steps
Reports suggest Naqvi is willing to transfer the trophy and medals to India, but only under the condition that an “official function” be organised for the ceremony. This demand has not gone down well with the BCCI, which views it as unnecessary theatrics that further politicise the game.
Sources confirm that India will continue pressing for the matter at the ICC level if the situation drags on. For now, the trophy saga has taken centre stage in cricket discussions across the subcontinent, overshadowing what should have been a historic sporting triumph.
Cricket Overshadowed by Politics
The Asia Cup 2025 was meant to showcase the best of Asian cricket, but the fallout from the final has highlighted once again how politics and sport remain entangled. While Indian players earned a hard-fought victory on the field, their celebrations remain incomplete as the trophy itself continues to be a subject of dispute.
Also, see:
India Refused Asia Cup 2025 Trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, Later Termed Him ‘Trophy Chor’