🔥 Cricket Turns Political Again! India, Pakistan Clash Over Asia Cup Trophy Ceremony

Asia Cup Trophy Row Deepens as BCCI, ACC Clash Over Handover Ceremony

KARACHI:
The ongoing standoff over the Asia Cup trophy — which India declined to collect at last month’s closing ceremony amid strained Pakistan-India relations — has yet to be resolved. According to Indian media reports, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reached out to Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi to finalise the trophy’s formal handover.

Naqvi, who also heads the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), told reporters in Karachi on Tuesday that the ACC has notified the BCCI about plans for an official presentation ceremony to be held in Dubai on December 10, where India will finally receive the championship trophy.

Sources told Dawn.com that Naqvi intends to personally hand over the trophy after the chaotic scenes that unfolded following last month’s Asia Cup final between Pakistan and India.

India’s Refusal at Closing Ceremony

India had narrowly defeated Pakistan by five wickets in a thrilling last-over contest at the Dubai International Stadium to reclaim the Asia Cup title. However, controversy erupted when the Indian players refused to accept the trophy from Naqvi during the closing ceremony, breaking with cricket’s long-standing post-match traditions.

No handshakes were exchanged between the two sides before or after the match, further amplifying tensions. Pakistan captain Salman Agha later accused India of “disrespecting cricket,” while Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav complained that his team had been “denied the trophy” despite winning the title.

In a post on social media platform X, Naqvi responded days later, stating:

“If they truly want it, they are welcome to come to the ACC office and collect it from me.”

BCCI Seeks Alternative Arrangement

The Press Trust of India (PTI) reported on Tuesday that the cricket boards of Afghanistan and Sri Lanka have supported the BCCI’s recent communication to Naqvi regarding the trophy issue.
A senior ACC official told PTI that Naqvi had insisted a BCCI representative collect the trophy from the ACC headquarters in Dubai — a proposal rejected by the Indian board, which now plans to raise the matter at the upcoming ICC meeting next month.

The ACC source added that BCCI Secretary Rajeev Shukla, along with representatives from Sri Lanka and Afghanistan cricket boards, had written to Naqvi last week, urging him to hand over the trophy directly to India.

Political Tensions Overshadow Cricket

The eight-nation Asia Cup once again became a flashpoint for political friction between India and Pakistan, the two nuclear-armed neighbours. The tournament, held in the UAE from September 9–28, came just four months after a brief but intense military confrontation following the April 22 Pahalgaam attack in Indian-occupied Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 local tourists.

The strain between the two nations spilled onto the cricket field when Indian players refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts during the group-stage encounter in Dubai. The situation worsened after Suryakumar Yadav drew criticism for politicising the event, referencing the Pahalgaam incident and Indian armed forces in his post-match remarks.

On Pakistan’s side, players and officials refrained from engaging with the media during their matches against India, though on-field verbal exchanges between players during the Super Four stage highlighted the escalating tension.

With both cricket boards standing firm on their positions, the Asia Cup trophy dispute remains unresolved — a stark reminder of how politics continues to shadow one of the world’s most intense sporting rivalries.