The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has issued a firm ultimatum to Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chairman Mohsin Naqvi regarding the long-delayed Asia Cup 2025 trophy. Despite India’s victory in the final held on September 28 in Dubai, the trophy has still not reached Mumbai even after several weeks.
Frustrated by the delay, BCCI joint secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that the board expects the trophy “to be in Mumbai within two days,” warning that the matter would be escalated if the deadline is missed. “We had written to the ACC chairman around 10 days ago, but nothing has moved,” Saikia stated, emphasizing that the issue would be raised at the upcoming ICC quarterly meeting on November 4 if no progress occurs.
Dispute Over Trophy Presentation
The controversy traces back to the post-match presentation ceremony after India’s five-wicket win against Pakistan in the Asia Cup final. The victory celebration was marred by confusion and delay, as the trophy presentation was reportedly held up for over an hour. According to reports, Indian players refused to receive the silverware from ACC president Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s interior minister.
The situation escalated when the trophy was abruptly removed from the stage without any official explanation, leaving both fans and media baffled. The BCCI viewed the incident as disrespectful and unprofessional, demanding that the trophy be delivered directly to their headquarters in Mumbai.
Naqvi’s Response and BCCI’s Next Steps
In response to the criticism, Mohsin Naqvi said he was ready to hand over the trophy but wanted “a representative from India to collect it” in person. However, the BCCI rejected this suggestion, asserting that it was the ACC’s responsibility to ensure the trophy reached India as the rightful winner. “We are not going to send someone to collect it. The trophy must come to us,” an official was quoted as saying.
With the ICC meeting approaching, the BCCI has made it clear that patience is running out. If the trophy fails to reach Mumbai within the next two days, the matter will be officially escalated at the international level. The ongoing standoff has not only created an administrative rift between the ACC and BCCI but also highlighted the lingering political tension between Indian and Pakistani cricket officials.
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