India moves to unseat Naqvi over trophy protocol breach
India is preparing to push for the impeachment of Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi following the post-match controversy that erupted after the Asia Cup 2025 final in Dubai. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has accused Naqvi of breaching ceremonial protocols and violating the responsibilities expected of the ACC chief.
According to an exclusive report by News18, India will explicitly call for Naqvi’s removal, asserting that he violated the core responsibilities expected of an ACC President. The controversy centers around Naqvi’s actions at the trophy presentation, where he allegedly bypassed established procedures and withheld the trophy from the Indian team after they refused to receive it from him.
Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s Interior Minister and Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), is alleged by the BCCI to have acted in his national capacity rather than as an impartial ACC head. India has argued that this dual role creates a conflict of interest and politicises cricket administration, contradicting the ACC’s principles of neutrality.
The BCCI informed Naqvi that the Indian players were not keen on receiving the trophy directly from him. The Indian cricket board had requested that the trophy and medals be handed over by an Emirati official instead, but Naqvi declined. He waited briefly, then left the venue with the trophy.
India’s position, according to the News18 report, is that this conduct undermined the integrity of the ACC tournament and denied India its rightful ceremonial recognition as champions. The incident is expected to be formally raised at the upcoming ICC meeting in November.
Trophy now with UAE board as questions over governance grow
As the push for impeachment gains momentum, NDTV sources have confirmed tha tthe trophy and medals were reportedly taken to Naqvi’s hotel room in Dubai following the match, but that the Asia Cup trophy has since been handed over to the UAE Cricket Board.
During the virtual ACC meeting, BCCI representatives Rajeev Shukla and Ashish Shelar directly confronted Naqvi and insisted that the trophy rightfully belonged to the Indian team. They also asked Naqvi to formally congratulate the unbeaten Indian squad led by Suryakumar Yadav, but he declined. While the ACC has reportedly expressed regret over the incident, Naqvi has yet to issue a formal apology.
Political overtones and fallout beyond the ACC
The Indian board views the incident as more than a ceremonial slight. According to the News18 report, top government sources have indicated that India plans to report the alleged trophy theft to UAE authorities and is calling for an official probe.
The BCCI argues that this undermines both the ACC and the International Cricket Council (ICC), potentially jeopardizing relationships with sponsors, broadcasters, and other cricket stakeholders.
As the ACC’s largest financial contributor, India — along with other neutral cricket boards — is expected to advocate for a vote of no-confidence against Naqvi. With the matter possibly heading to the ICC’s agenda in November, the fallout could significantly reshape the dynamics of cricket administration in Asia.
