The ongoing controversy over the Asia Cup 2025 trophy, which India rightfully won by defeating Pakistan in the final on September 28, 2025, at Dubai International Stadium, has taken a contentious turn with a viral video featuring Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who remains in possession of the silverware despite repeated demands from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for its handover. Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief and Pakistan's Interior Minister, has insisted on personally presenting the trophy to an Indian team representative in a formal ceremony in Dubai, a condition rejected by the BCCI amid strained bilateral relations exacerbated by the recent Pahalgam terror attack and broader geopolitical tensions. The standoff, which delayed the post-match presentation by over an hour and saw Naqvi storm off the podium with the trophy, has now drawn sharp criticism following the emergence of a clip where inflammatory remarks against India were made in his presence.

In the video, shared widely on social media platforms like X and reported by outlets including NDTV and Cricket Country, Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori is seen praising Naqvi's actions during an event, recounting how the ACC chief "demonstrated patience" while standing on the ground as the Indian team refused the presentation. Tessori's speech escalates into derogatory territory, alleging the Indian side hoped Naqvi would "move aside" so they could claim the trophy from another official, only to be outmanoeuvred by his resolve. He then claims Naqvi "handled the team like dehshat gardon (terrorists)," loaded the trophy into a car, and departed, concluding that "now, the whole of India is chasing the trophy."

Naqvi, visibly present and captured on camera, neither interrupts nor rebukes the comments, instead offering a smile at points, which has been interpreted as tacit endorsement and sparked outrage across Indian social media. The remarks, laced with references to terrorism—a sensitive accusation given India-Pakistan history—have amplified calls for Naqvi's removal from ACC leadership, with BCCI officials labelling it a "serious breach of decorum" in private discussions.

The incident traces back to the final, where India's captain Suryakumar Yadav and his team, citing protocol and neutrality concerns, declined to accept the honours from Naqvi, prompting him to instruct an aide to whisk the trophy away in a now-infamous sprint from the stadium. Naqvi later described feeling "like a cartoon" on the dais, a comment that drew ire from Indian fans and media for downplaying the episode's gravity.

Support for Naqvi within Pakistan, including from former cricketer Mohammad Yousuf, who deemed his stance "absolutely right" and criticised India's refusal as "filmy", has only fuelled the divide, while international voices like AB de Villiers urged separating politics from the sport. The trophy, currently secured in the ACC's Dubai office under Naqvi's explicit instructions against release without his approval, symbolises deeper fissures in Asian cricket governance, where India's market dominance clashes with the PCB's aspirations for parity.

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As the saga persists, BCCI representatives like Rajeev Shukla and Ashish Shelar have engaged in virtual meetings with ACC, demanding the trophy's transfer to neutral custody, but Naqvi has proposed a November 10 ceremony in Dubai as a non-negotiable venue. The matter is slated for discussion at the ICC Board meeting in Dubai from November 4 to 7, where BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, as ICC Chairman, could leverage influence to mediate or escalate. This episode not only tarnishes the spirit of the Asia Cup—Asia's premier limited-overs tournament—but also risks broader repercussions, including potential boycotts of future events and strained relations between the cricket boards, underscoring how off-field politics continues to overshadow on-field triumphs.

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