Dubai: Amid the raging controversy over Team India being denied the Asia Cup 2025 trophy after beating Pakistan in the final on Sunday night, Mohsin Naqvi, the man at the centre of the controversy, has finally spoken out.
Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Naqvi, who also heads the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and is Pakistan’s minister of Interior and Narcotics Control, said he was ‘ready’ hand over the trophy, and asked Suryakumar Yadav’s men to collect it from him at the ACC office.
“As ACC President, I was ready to hand over the trophy that very day, and I am still ready now. If they truly want it, they are welcome to come to the ACC office and collect it from me,” Naqvi wrote on X. Naqvi’s X account is withheld for Indian users.
Naqvi rubbished media reports that he apologised to Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officials during the recent ACC meeting, and said he had done nothing wrong.
“Let me make it absolutely clear: I have done nothing wrong and I have never apologised to the BCCI nor will I ever do so,” Naqvi stated.
Naqvi walked out of the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday night after the Indian team refused to receive the trophy from him. It was learnt that the men in blue felt it was morally wrong to do so, considering Naqvi’s anti-India stance, especially post Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor.
The Indian management had no problems with other officials present at the dais presenting the winners’ trophy and individual medals. But Naqvi was equally adamant. After an hour-long stand-off, which delayed the presentation ceremony, Naqvi left the stadium, asking officials to take the trophy to his hotel room.
BCCI has threatened to take the matter to the International Cricket Council.
