The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has issued a firm message to Mohsin Naqvi, the chairman of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), regarding the delayed handover of the 2025 Asia Cup trophy. With the International Cricket Council's (ICC) quarterly meeting scheduled for November 4, the BCCI is preparing to escalate the matter if the trophy does not arrive in Mumbai within two days.
India won the 2025 edition of the Asia Cup more than a month ago, after defeating Pakistan in the final on September 28. However, the trophy remains in the custody of the ACC, causing frustration within the BCCI. The unusual delay began after the Indian team refused to accept the trophy from ACC President Mohsin Naqvi during the post-match presentation. Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan's interior minister and the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), then instructed ACC officials to withhold the trophy, leading to a bizarre scene where the Indian team celebrated without the silverware.
BCCI joint secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed the board's intention to raise the issue at the ICC meeting. He expressed optimism that the trophy would reach the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai imminently. "Yes, we are a little bit unhappy with the way the trophy has not been given to us even after a month," Saikia told PTI. He added, "We are pursuing this matter. About 10 days ago, we also wrote a letter to the chairman of ACC, but there is no change in their stand".
Despite the lack of progress, Saikia remains hopeful for a swift resolution. "They are still keeping the trophy under their custody, but we hope that the trophy will reach us in a day or two at the BCCI office in Mumbai," he stated. However, he made it clear that if the handover does not occur promptly, the matter would be formally addressed at the upcoming ICC meetings in Dubai.
Saikia assured Indian cricket fans that the trophy would eventually return to India. "On behalf of the BCCI, we are fully prepared on how to deal with the matter, and I can assure the people of India that the trophy will now come back to India; only the timeline is not fixed. One day it will come," he declared.
The ACC president, Mohsin Naqvi, has reportedly insisted that India send a representative to collect the trophy from him directly. The BCCI, however, has rejected this proposal, deeming it unnecessary for their captain to travel to Dubai for a trophy that should have been awarded after the final match.
The situation has created a deadlock, with the Asia Cup trophy remaining out of India's reach. The BCCI's firm stance and decision to potentially escalate the issue to the ICC underscore the seriousness with which they view the matter. Some reports indicate that the PCB has instructed its legal department to prepare a dossier in case the BCCI seeks to censure Naqvi at the ICC meeting.
The ICC has been notified about the situation. The BCCI has stated they are prepared to address the matter during the meeting on November 4 if the trophy is not in their possession within 48 hours.
Adding to existing tensions, the BCCI has also decided that the Indian cricket team will not travel to Pakistan for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy due to security concerns.
