Trophy dispute overshadows ICC meetings in Dubai
The ongoing controversy over the Asia Cup 2025 trophy has resurfaced ahead of this week’s ICC meetings in Dubai, as tensions continue between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Though not officially listed on the ICC’s agenda, the matter was expected to be raised informally by Indian officials on the sidelines of the Chief Executives’ Committee (CEC) meeting on November 5 and the ICC Board meeting on November 7.
India defeated Pakistan to clinch the Asia Cup title earlier this year, but the Indian team declined to accept the trophy from Pakistan’s Mohsin Naqvi, who serves both as PCB Chairman and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President. Since that incident, the trophy has reportedly remained locked away at the ACC’s UAE office, without being formally handed over to the Indian board.
BCCI prepares to take up issue at global level
With no resolution in sight, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed the board’s plan to escalate the matter during the ICC meetings.
“If we do not get the trophy by November 3, we will raise the issue at the ICC headquarters in Dubai. I am sure the ICC will do justice and help India get the trophy at the earliest,” Saikia had told ANI.
According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, BCCI representatives are also likely to seek clarification from the ACC on why the trophy has not yet been delivered.
The standoff is seen as part of a broader power struggle within Asian cricket, with the BCCI growing increasingly dissatisfied with Naqvi’s handling of the situation.
Naqvi under growing pressure as removal talk intensifies
The trophy standoff may be triggering deeper fallout within cricket’s power corridors. According to an ICC source, the ongoing controversy has prompted serious discontent among several board members, who are now exploring the possibility of removing Mohsin Naqvi as ACC President through an impeachment-style motion.
These internal discussions are expected to gain momentum during the ICC Board meetings in Dubai, where Chairman Jay Shah could play a pivotal role in steering the outcome if a formal resolution is introduced.
Adding fuel to the controversy, reports have claimed that Naqvi may have moved the trophy from the ACC headquarters to another undisclosed location, further aggravating tensions with the BCCI.
India–Pakistan tensions spill into cricket governance
The dispute reflects the broader political and administrative strain between the two cricket boards, especially following India’s refusal to shake hands with Pakistan players during the tournament—an act the Indian side reportedly carried out in protest of the Pahalgam attack.
The Asia Cup 2025 final itself, already fraught with symbolism, became a flashpoint when India rejected the trophy presentation from Naqvi, citing his dual role as PCB chairman and Pakistan’s Interior Minister.
The BCCI has yet to receive the trophy, and the issue now threatens to dominate off-field conversations during a critical week for global cricket diplomacy.
With commercial stakes tied to India–Pakistan cricket and increasing calls for leadership changes in the ACC, the next few days in Dubai may reshape more than just tournament logistics—they could redefine the power balance in Asian cricket governance.
