Three days after the Asia Cup 2025 wrapped up, tensions refuse to subside. India clinched its ninth title by defeating Pakistan in the final, yet the victory’s celebration has been overshadowed by a contentious handover process that has escalated into a diplomatic standoff.
Central to the dispute is Mohsin Naqvi, who serves as president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). A heated ACC gathering in Dubai, held shortly after the tournament’s conclusion, has intensified the rift. Indian administrators remain incensed as the winners’ medals and trophy continue to elude their grasp, with no resolution emerging from a virtual discussion between the ACC and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday.
A well-placed source confided in Hindustan Times: “Naqvi’s conduct during the session was entirely inappropriate for an ACC leader. His initial address omitted any acknowledgment of India’s triumph, only incorporating it after persistent prompts from Ashish Shelar. He showed little interest in addressing the victory or the absent trophy. When the BCCI volunteered to manage delivery logistics requesting only that the items reach ACC headquarters Naqvi repeatedly evaded the matter.”
The friction traces back to the final’s presentation ceremony, delayed by almost an hour. Reports indicate the holdup stemmed from Naqvi’s insistence on personally presenting the trophy to the Indian team, a move they rejected outright. The event proceeded regardless, allowing India to savor the moment sans the hardware.
This episode did not unfold in isolation. Throughout the competition, India’s decision to forgo handshakes with Pakistani counterparts sparked widespread debate among ex-players, analysts, social media voices, and fans alike. What began as a principled stand evolved into provocative antics from some Pakistani athletes on the pitch. Incidents ranged from on-field penalties for misconduct to the unusual sight of separate toss officials questioning the captains ahead of the decider, all fueling an atmosphere of unease.
As the dust settles on what may stand as the most acrimonious Asia Cup to date, the BCCI is pushing for a straightforward, rule-compliant transfer of the awards through official ACC pathways. Naqvi, however, persists as the pivotal figure in this procedural debacle. Ultimately, the 2025 edition risks being etched in memory as profoundly for its administrative intrigue as for India’s on-field dominance.
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