New Delhi, Oct 19: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) finds itself under fire for its apparent inaction in holding Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi accountable for the bizarre Asia Cup 2025 trophy fiasco that continues to embarrass the continental body.
According to multiple reports, Naqvi—who also serves as Pakistan’s Interior Minister—has allegedly kept the Asia Cup trophy locked in the ACC office in Dubai, refusing to hand it over to the rightful winners, India. The controversy, which erupted soon after the tournament’s conclusion, has since snowballed into a diplomatic cricket standoff, exposing both the ACC’s leadership crisis and BCCI’s reluctance to act decisively.
Trophy Locked, Accountability Missing
While earlier rumours suggested Naqvi had taken the trophy to Pakistan, reliable sources have confirmed that the silverware remains locked at the ACC’s headquarters housed within the ICC Academy in Dubai. What’s more, insiders reveal that Naqvi has personally instructed ACC staff not to move the trophy without his explicit approval — effectively holding the title hostage.
The incident stemmed from the awkward presentation ceremony in which Team India reportedly refused to accept the trophy directly from Naqvi, prompting the ACC chief to take the cup back to his hotel in anger. Since then, he has allegedly refused to release it, insisting that India must collect the trophy from him in person.
BCCI’s Weak Stand Raises Questions
The issue was first discussed during the ACC Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Dubai on September 30, where tempers reportedly flared between BCCI representatives and Naqvi.
Yet despite heated exchanges, the matter ended inconclusively, with both sides agreeing to revisit it in November.
Critics now argue that the BCCI has failed to assert its authority within the ACC, especially considering the gravity of Naqvi’s alleged misconduct. By allowing the matter to linger, the Indian board risks being seen as toothless in defending its team’s rights and maintaining the integrity of Asian cricket governance.
A senior cricket official, speaking off the record, noted, “It’s astonishing that the trophy remains unhanded months after India’s win. The BCCI has the stature and influence to ensure accountability, yet the silence is deafening.”
Naqvi May Skip Crucial ICC, ACC Meetings Again
Adding to the tension, reports suggest that Naqvi may once again avoid attending the ICC and ACC meetings scheduled in Dubai next month — a move reminiscent of his earlier absence from the ICC Annual Conference in July.
His repeated non-appearances could effectively stall any discussion or resolution regarding the trophy controversy.
Cricbuzz has reported that Naqvi’s planned absence could be a calculated move to delay scrutiny and prevent any formal action from being initiated. Sources close to the matter believe the BCCI was preparing to raise the issue formally and even seek Naqvi’s removal from the ICC board over his alleged transgressions. However, without Naqvi’s presence, such action may once again be deferred.
The ‘Houdini Act’ Continues
Observers have likened Naqvi’s evasive manoeuvres to a “Houdini act,” managing to slip past accountability with each passing meeting. His grip over the ACC and refusal to relinquish the trophy have not only embarrassed the regional body but also exposed the BCCI’s failure to translate its influence into meaningful action.
With the trophy controversy symbolising a larger breakdown in cricket diplomacy between India and Pakistan, the upcoming November meetings in Dubai may determine whether the BCCI finally chooses confrontation over complacency.Until then, the Asia Cup trophy remains locked away—an uneasy reminder of administrative failure, misplaced ego, and cricketing politics at its worst. (Agencies)
