An unresolved trophy dispute from the 2025 men’s Asia Cup could return to the spotlight in Dubai, with India’s participation in the upcoming Women’s Asia Cup creating the possibility of another delicate presentation ceremony involving Asian Cricket Council President Mohsin Naqvi.
The tournament runs from August 28 to September 13, with India and Pakistan scheduled to meet in the group stage on September 5. But the more complicated scenario could emerge at the end of the competition if Harmanpreet Kaur’s team wins the title and Naqvi is on the presentation dais.
The BCCI has not disclosed how it would respond to that specific situation. While its position remains that there will be no exchange of pleasantries between the Indian and Pakistani teams, the Board is taking a wait-and-watch approach to any potential issue surrounding the trophy presentation.
Presentation scenario puts unresolved dispute back in focus
Naqvi remains ACC President while simultaneously serving as Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman and Pakistan’s Interior Minister, making his potential role in the presentation particularly significant given what happened at the previous Asia Cup.
There is currently no certainty that the scenario will arise. India would first need to reach the September 13 final and win the tournament, while Naqvi would need to be involved in presenting the trophy.
One possible route around another standoff would be for a different ACC official to conduct the presentation if India become champions. No such arrangement has been confirmed, however.
India and Pakistan could potentially meet twice during the tournament, but only if both reach the final. Their September 5 group-stage fixture is guaranteed, while another encounter would depend on their respective progress through the competition.
2025 controversy provides the backdrop
The issue stems from the men’s Asia Cup final in Dubai in September 2025, when India defeated Pakistan but declined to accept the trophy from Naqvi amid heightened political tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack and subsequent military confrontation between India and Pakistan.
As previously reported by cricexec, India secured its ninth Asia Cup title but finished the presentation ceremony without receiving the trophy. The Indian players instead celebrated their victory without the silverware after the presentation proceedings concluded.
The trophy was subsequently taken away and, according to the current reports, has still not been formally handed over to India. That unfinished dispute now provides an unusual backdrop to another ACC tournament being staged in Dubai.
The circumstances are particularly relevant because Naqvi continues to lead the continental governing body, leaving open the possibility that the same individuals and institutions could again find themselves navigating a trophy presentation involving an Indian championship.
November talks opened dialogue but did not settle trophy row
Attempts to resolve the disagreement moved forward later in 2025 when Naqvi and BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia held discussions on the sidelines of an ICC Board meeting in Dubai.
As reported previously by cricexec, the November meeting represented the first significant move towards easing the impasse, with ICC officials helping facilitate discussions between the two cricket boards. Despite the more constructive engagement, the trophy issue was not brought to a final resolution.
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia told PTI in November 2025: “The ice has been broken now, so both sides will work out options and come to an amicable resolution. There will be options from the other side as well, and we will also give options on how to settle this issue.”
The continuing absence of a resolution means the previous controversy has remained relevant well beyond the conclusion of the men’s tournament.
India’s title record raises possibility of another presentation question
India’s record in the Women’s Asia Cup makes the potential scenario more than a purely remote consideration. The team has won seven editions and appeared in the final of all nine tournaments staged to date.
Pakistan, meanwhile, has never won the Women’s Asia Cup, reaching the final in 2012 and 2016. The team made the semi-finals in 2022 and 2024 after exiting during the group stage in 2018.
The format means an India-Pakistan final is not necessary for the Naqvi question to emerge. If India reach the title match against any opponent, win the tournament and Naqvi is scheduled to present the trophy, the BCCI and ACC could still have to determine how the ceremony will be handled.
For now, no decision is required and no presentation dispute is certain to occur. But with the 2025 trophy still not formally in India’s possession, another Indian Asia Cup triumph in Dubai could turn what remains an unresolved piece of cricket administration into an immediate issue once again.
