A high-stakes drama was witnessed in Lahore when Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi met ICC Vice Chairman Imran Khawaja at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday, February 8. The meeting was held to resolve the ongoing tension over Pakistan’s proposed boycott of the T20 World Cup 2026 clash against India in Colombo on February 15.
Mohsin Naqvi reopens Asia Cup trophy controversy in Lahore
During the discussion, Mohsin Naqvi raised many issues with the ICC including the Asia Cup trophy dispute. “He asked Khawaja whether the ICC would have remained silent if the Pakistan team had refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy during a presentation by an Indian board official,” PTI quoted a PCB official as saying.
After India defeated Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2026 final last September, Suryakumar Yadav refused to accept the winning trophy from the PCB and ACC chief, who is also Pakistan’s interior minister.
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PCB chief felt ‘humiliated’
The team took this decision in view of the ongoing tension between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam terrorist attack and Operation Sindoor. In a dramatic twist, Naqvi left the venue with the trophy, drawing a strong reaction from the BCCI.
The BCCI immediately demanded the return of the trophy, termed Naqvi’s actions as unprofessional and warned that the matter could reach the ICC. Well, even the meeting of ACC and ICC board members has not helped in resolving that matter yet.
Now this controversy has extended till T20 World Cup 2026. PCB took full advantage of the meeting and raised old issues. In a recent meeting with the ICC and PCB, Mohsin Naqvi said he felt ‘humiliated’ during the Asia Cup final ceremony.
PCB and PCB pushing for tri-series with India
The ICC, along with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), is involved in talks to convince Pakistan to play against India. Mohsin Naqvi is expected to meet Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on February 9 and urge him to reconsider the boycott following requests from several cricket boards.
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Apart from resolving the T20 World Cup 2026 controversy, the PCB and BCB are also pushing for a bigger plan: a tri-series involving India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. He called on the ICC to restore cricket ties between the three countries and give fans more exciting matches through triangular series.
ICC remains neutral on India-Pakistan-Bangladesh relations
According to the Cricbuzz report, it is not clear how many of the demands of the PCB and BCB have been accepted by the ICC. But it is being said that the global organization cannot take a decision on any series with India while remaining neutral on the proposal of tri-series. Only the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which works under the Government of India, can take the decision.
A series between India and Bangladesh has been planned in Bangladesh in September. But due to the current political tension it is not certain whether this will happen or not. A final decision will require agreement from all parties. ICC is trying to resolve the issues through dialogue and discussion. But it is certain that the fate of the match between India and Pakistan will be decided on 9 or 10 February.