Mumbai: Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Devajit Saikia has broken his silence on the Asia Cup trophy (TROPHY) controversy and provided an update for millions of Indian cricket fans.
Naqvi Had Kept India’s Trophy Away
After India won the Asia Cup last year, the Indian team, led by Suryakumar Yadav, refused to accept the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Pakistan’s Minister for Interior and chief of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), the tournament’s governing body. Following the refusal, Naqvi kept the trophy meant for India away from the team.
Suryakumar and his teammates subsequently celebrated their championship with a virtual trophy. Naqvi has maintained ever since that India would have to accept the trophy from him personally, a condition that India has not accepted.
Indian Team Celebrated the Victory on the Field
After the Indian women’s team became champions of the T20 Asia Cup on Sunday, Harmanpreet Kaur and her teammates also refused to accept the trophy from Naqvi, meaning the trophy has still not reached the Indian women’s team.
However, Harmanpreet and her teammates celebrated their triumph on the field along with top officials of the cricket board. Fast bowler Nandani Sharma was presented with a medal for being named the tournament’s Best Fielder.
Saikia Offers Reassurance
BCCI secretary Saikia has now reassured Indian cricket fans that both trophies will soon reach the BCCI.
In an interview with a leading television channel, Saikia said, “I cannot give an exact timeline right now for when both trophies will arrive, but it is certain that both trophies will soon reach the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai. India has not received the men’s Asia Cup trophy for more than a year, and Sunday’s women’s Asia Cup trophy has also not reached us yet.
“The decision not to accept the trophies from Naqvi was an institutional decision. The BCCI has absolutely no intention of causing any harm to the players, the sport of cricket or the reputation of the Asia Cup tournament.”
Mohsin Naqvi: ‘Trophy Chor… Trophy Chor…’
It may be recalled that after India defeated Pakistan three times during last year’s Asia Cup and went on to win the title, Suryakumar Yadav and his team refused to accept the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi.
Naqvi subsequently kept the trophy meant for India away from the team. At the time, Indian cricket fans circulated social-media posts featuring slogans such as “Trophy Chor… Trophy Chor…” aimed at Naqvi.
This time too, Naqvi came onto the field to present the trophy to the Indian women’s champions, but the Indian team did not approach him to collect it. Eventually, after presenting medals to the runner-up Sri Lankan team, Naqvi left the field.
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