DUBAI (Diya TV) — India and Pakistan cricket officials clashed at the Asian Cricket Council’s annual meeting on Tuesday after a dramatic standoff over the Asia Cup 2025 trophy. The dispute followed the final, when India refused to accept the trophy from Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
The incident sparked outrage inside the Board of Control for Cricket in India. BCCI vice president Rajeev Shukla accused Naqvi of mishandling the ceremony and taking the trophy into his custody instead of handing it to the winning team. He reminded the meeting that the silverware belongs to the ACC, not to any individual. Shukla said the trophy should have been presented to India on the night of their victory.
Tensions escalated when Naqvi defended himself. He argued that India had not filed a formal written refusal and said he felt unfairly targeted. Naqvi also urged that the matter be discussed later rather than settled in front of ACC members. His response left the BCCI unimpressed. Shukla insisted that the trophy be returned and handed to the Indian team without delay.
The conflict began in the post-match ceremony at the Dubai International Stadium. After Rinku Singh struck the winning runs, players prepared for the presentation. However, the ceremony was delayed for nearly 45 minutes. The Indian team refused to take the trophy from Naqvi, who is also Pakistan’s interior minister. Reports later confirmed that the trophy was taken to Naqvi’s hotel room, preventing the Men in Blue from lifting it in front of fans.
Indian players were ready to accept the award from Emirates Cricket Board vice chairman Khalid Al Zarooni, but the ACC rejected the proposal. Instead, the team collected individual honors from other dignitaries. Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, and Kuldeep Yadav received their prizes, while Pakistan players collected their runners-up medals and cheques. Yet the main trophy remained out of India’s reach.
Inside the meeting room, Naqvi’s stance drew sharp criticism. According to ACC sources, BCCI leaders grew frustrated when Naqvi even hesitated to congratulate the Indian team. He eventually offered congratulations only after repeated urging by Indian delegate Ashish Shelar. Still, he refused to hand over the silverware. Shelar, upset by the exchanges, walked out midway through the session.
The BCCI announced plans to file a complaint with the International Cricket Council. Officials said they would also consider collecting the trophy directly from the ACC office if Naqvi failed to release it. For India, the issue is about respect for the tournament and its champions. Shukla noted that the Asia Cup belongs to the confederation and must not be treated as personal property.
The situation has cast a shadow over what should have been a night of celebration. India had dominated the competition, sealing their victory with confidence. Yet the triumph ended with players celebrating only on the field without the traditional trophy moment. Many fans expressed disappointment at the spectacle, and the row has since become a flashpoint between two of cricket’s most powerful boards.
The controversy comes at a sensitive time. In the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, Indian officials signaled that they would not accept honors from Naqvi, who holds a key political role in Pakistan. That decision further complicated the trophy ceremony and set the stage for the current dispute.
The Asia Cup trophy remains locked in the ACC office for now. It is unclear when India will finally take possession of the prize they earned. With both boards standing firm, the disagreement could soon escalate onto the global stage. If the ICC intervenes, the matter could set a precedent for how cricket handles political tensions during high-profile events.
