Asia Cup trophy controversy has once again highlighted the tense cricketing ties between India and Pakistan. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi strongly rejected Indian media claims that he had apologised to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
The controversy started after the Asia Cup 2025 final in Dubai. The Indian cricket team refused to receive the winners’ trophy from Naqvi. Later, Indian media alleged that Naqvi himself had denied handing over the trophy and later apologised to the BCCI.
Naqvi dismissed the reports as “fabricated lies” and “cheap propaganda.” He stated clearly that he had never apologised to the BCCI and would not do so in the future. He added that he was ready then, and remains ready now, to hand over the trophy if India collects it from the ACC office.
During the tournament, Naqvi had already criticised India for “dragging politics into cricket.” His remarks came after Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav dedicated the victory to victims of the Pahalgam terrorist attack. The PCB even lodged a complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC), which fined Yadav for breaching the code of conduct.
The Asia Cup trophy controversy has once again spilled politics into cricket. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated his team and linked the win to “Operation Sindoor.” Naqvi responded by reminding India of its past defeats, calling Modi’s remarks an attempt to mix war with sport.
This latest incident has deepened mistrust between the two cricket boards. For now, the trophy remains with the ACC, while both sides continue to exchange harsh words instead of celebrating the spirit of the game.
