By Staff Reporter
LAHORE: Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Tuesday rebuffed a demand by Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Vice-President Rajeev Shukla to hand over the Asia Cup 2025 trophy, Geo News reported, escalating tensions between the two cricketing bodies.
The dispute erupted during a routine ACC meeting in Dubai, chaired by Naqvi, who also heads the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Shukla, joining virtually, repeatedly pressed for the trophy’s transfer to the BCCI. Naqvi dismissed the request, stating it was not on the meeting’s agenda.
When Shukla persisted, Naqvi reportedly said the Indian captain must personally collect the trophy from the ACC office. No agreement was reached on the trophy’s handover, leaving the issue unresolved. BCCI officials, attending remotely, reacted sharply, proposing instead that the trophy be sent to the International Cricket Council (ICC) headquarters. The suggestion found no traction, and the Indian delegation abruptly left the virtual meeting, cutting their feed.
Other ACC members sought to ease tensions, urging restraint, but the walkout highlighted the growing rift between the BCCI and the ACC leadership.
The row follows a string of controversies during the Asia Cup in Dubai. India’s defeat of Pakistan in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium was overshadowed by the Indian team’s refusal to accept the trophy from Naqvi during the post-match ceremony. The Men in Blue left without lifting the silverware, drawing widespread scrutiny.
Earlier in the tournament, Indian players snubbed handshakes with their Pakistani counterparts, fueling tensions that persisted from the group stage through to the final.
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