New Delhi: Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi has stated that he is willing to present the medals and trophy to the Asia Cup-winning Indian team, but with one condition: a formal function must be held. According to a Cricbuzz report, Naqvi has conveyed this condition to the tournament organizers, but at present, such a ceremony appears unlikely, potentially fueling the controversy.
Naqvi’s Influence and India’s Response
Naqvi is the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and an influential Pakistani politician. Therefore, it was not surprising that he rejected the Indian team’s demands after the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. India defeated Pakistan by five wickets, but the team stated that it did not want to take their hard-earned trophy and medals from Naqvi.
Mohsin Naqvi is notorious in the region for his anti-India statements and mocking of Indian sentiments. The Indian team’s decision also had the full support of the BCCI.
On-field Drama: Negotiations and Rejections
During hours of negotiations, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav and his team proposed alternatives to accepting the trophy. India suggested that the trophy be received from Emirates Cricket Board President Khalid Al Zarooni or Bangladesh Cricket Board President Aminul Islam. But Naqvi, perhaps to protect his image, remained firm and stated that only he would present the award.
The next incident was even more unusual: Naqvi not only left the stage but also left the stadium, followed by ACC officials carrying the trophy. Currently, the trophy is reportedly kept at the ACC headquarters, while the Indian players are celebrating their victory in a different way, holding an imaginary trophy or posting photos with coffee cup and trophy emojis.
BCCI’s Strong Response and Future Plans
The BCCI has stated that the issue will be raised at the International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting in November. Furthermore, according to reports, the BCCI will also raise it at the ACC meeting in Dubai on Tuesday, September 30. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 3:30 PM IST.
Story Highlights
- Mohsin Naqvi set a condition for presenting the trophy to India: a ‘formal function’.
- The Indian team refused to accept the trophy and medals from Naqvi.
- Naqvi left the stage and took the trophy outside with ACC officials.
- The BCCI is preparing to raise this issue in both the ICC and ACC meetings.
ACC chief Mohsin Naqvi has agreed to return the Asia Cup trophy to Team India, but only on one condition: a formal function must be held, keeping the controversy alive.
