Just weeks after the Asia Cup 2025 final match between India and Pakistan in Dubai, the controversy over the trophy has taken another turn. According to reports, PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi has shifted the trophy from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) headquarters to an undisclosed location in Abu Dhabi.
The Suryakumar Yadav-led team maintained its stance of refusing to shake hands with Pakistan players throughout the tournament. He also refused to accept the trophy from Pakistan Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. Naqvi stressed that it was his right and duty to present the trophy to the Indian cricket team.
Tension between India and Pakistan extends from the battlefield to the cricket field
Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated further after a four-day military clash at the beginning of the year. This continued on the cricket field during the Asia Cup 2025. Notably, this was the first cricket tournament between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir.
Suryakumar Yadav dedicated this victory to the Indian Armed Forces. Pakistani cricketers made gestures like simulated firing and plane crash.
India defeated Pakistan in the final on 28 September. However, the tournament ended in controversy, as India refused to accept the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi. The Asia Cup will probably be remembered less for the cricket and more for the political and emotional tension.
Asia Cup trophy removed from ACC office by Mohsin Naqvi and locked in Abu Dhabi
According to an ANI report, after India refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy, an official removed it from the presentation stage without any explanation.
Another twist in the situation came when a BCCI representative recently visited the ACC headquarters to inquire about the whereabouts of the trophy, but later learned that it has been shifted to some other location in Abu Dhabi.
“A BCCI official had visited the ACC headquarters a few days ago. When he inquired about the trophy at the ACC office, the staff told him that it has been removed from here and is with Moshin Naqvi at some place in Abu Dhabi,” sources said.
Mohsin Naqvi insists India must lift Asia Cup trophy individually
Mohsin Naqvi reportedly told Indian officials that if they really want the Asia Cup 2025 trophy, they will have to get it from them at the ACC office. According to Geo News, he also suggested organizing a formal ceremony where the trophy could be handed over to India.
The response came after the BCCI sent a letter requesting that the trophy be officially handed over. However, Naqvi refused to budge and insisted that to achieve this an Indian player would have to attend the event in person.
Following the ACC meeting in late September, reports emerged claiming that Naqvi had apologized to the BCCI for the post-final chaos, although he later denied any such apology. The meeting ended without any concrete decision on when and how the trophy would be handed over to India.
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