The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Monday that it will file a "very strong protest" at the upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting in Dubai in early November against Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi, who reportedly took the Asia Cup trophy and medals to his hotel after the Indian team refused to accept them from him following their final victory. The incident, which marred India's triumphant five-wicket win over Pakistan on Sunday, stems from Naqvi's dual role as Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman and Pakistan's Interior Minister, amid heightened bilateral tensions. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia defended the team's stance, emphasising national sovereignty: "India cannot take the trophy from the person who is waging a war against our country."
The controversy erupted during the post-match ceremony at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, where Tilak Varma's unbeaten 69 off 53 balls guided India to chase 147, securing their ninth Asia Cup title and second in T20 format. Captain Suryakumar Yadav and his squad declined the presentation from Naqvi, prompting him to leave with the awards—a move Saikia called "unexpected" and "very childish". "We have taken a decision not to accept the trophy, but that does not allow the gentleman to take away the trophy and the medals to his hotel," Saikia stated, highlighting the breach of protocol. This echoes earlier frictions in the tournament, including India's refusal to shake hands after three dominant wins over Pakistan and Ravi Shastri skipping the toss interview, all linked to the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians and escalated India-Pakistan hostilities.
Saikia lauded the Indian team's unbeaten campaign, winning all seven matches, including a 3-0 sweep against Pakistan across the group, Super Four, and final stages. "This is a big victory and a big time cricket achievement for the country," he said, crediting the squad's resilience on a challenging pitch. Varma, named Player of the Match, and Abhishek Sharma, the tournament's standout performer, exemplified India's depth. Despite domestic backlash over engaging Pakistan post-Pahalgam—blamed on Lashkar-e-Taiba offshoot The Resistance Front (TRF)—Saikia affirmed adherence to government directives. "In bilateral tournaments, India is not going to play against Pakistan... "But in multinational tournaments like the Asia Cup, we have to play," he explained, noting the risks of bans from international bodies otherwise. The policy, in place for 12-15 years, balances diplomacy with security, as evidenced by heightened vigilance during the event.
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The trophy row amplifies longstanding India-Pakistan cricket rivalries, frozen for bilaterals since 2008 but contested in ICC/ACC events. Naqvi's position, appointed in February 2025 amid Pakistan's political flux, has fuelled perceptions of bias, especially after his government's alleged sheltering of TRF operatives. BCCI's ICC protest could strain ACC dynamics, potentially affecting future scheduling. Saikia concluded on a celebratory note: "With this handsome win over Pakistan and the thumping victory of 3-0, I am sure we will bring a lot of happiness to our people. The country is really proud of the performance of the Indian cricket team." As fans revel in the triumph—India's first Asia Cup final against Pakistan since 1984—the off-field discord underscores cricket's entanglement with geopolitics in South Asia.
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