A significant dispute has emerged over the Asia Cup trophy, with the BCCI now directly confronting the ACC chief, Mohsin Naqvi. The Indian cricket board has reportedly dispatched an email to Naqvi, demanding the immediate handover of the coveted trophy to the winning team, India. The communication from the BCCI carries a strong message, threatening to involve the International Cricket Council (ICC) if Naqvi fails to comply with the request.
Sources reveal that the trophy was taken by Naqvi, who also serves as the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and holds the position of Pakistan’s Interior Minister, after India’s refusal to accept it during the post-match ceremony. The ACC chief’s action has led to the trophy currently being housed at the ACC’s Dubai headquarters, creating an unusual situation for the tournament champions.
The Asia Cup has been marred by off-field controversies, including reports of players from both India and Pakistan avoiding handshakes during recent encounters. The trophy incident, however, marks a new low. Indian players reportedly opted not to receive the trophy and medals from Naqvi, leading to him taking the silverware. Reflecting on the bizarre turn of events, India’s T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav commented that he had never seen a champion team being deprived of its trophy, emphasizing the significance of the hard-earned victory and the medals the team already possessed.