Dubai: The Asian Cricket Council (ACC), led by Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, has reportedly proposed holding a special ceremony in Dubai on November 10 to formally present the Asia Cup 2025 trophy to India, following their victory over Pakistan last month.
According to ACC sources, the proposal comes after a post-final standoff in which the Indian team, acting on the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)’s direction, declined to accept the trophy from Naqvi during the September 29 final presentation ceremony in Sharjah.
BCCI later sent a formal letter to the ACC, requesting that the trophy be officially handed over to the team. In response, Naqvi reportedly insisted that the presentation must take place in person and proposed that an Indian player attend a dedicated trophy handover event.
“Chairman Naqvi has made it clear that the trophy will be presented by him personally during an official ceremony,” said one source familiar with the matter.
Background of the Controversy
The trophy dispute traces back to a tense political backdrop during the Asia Cup 2025, where India’s team came under fire for making politically charged gestures during the tournament.
Criticism intensified after Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav declined to shake hands with Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha at the toss on September 14 — a gesture repeated in later matches, including the final. Both sides also skipped the traditional post-match handshake and maintained separate huddles during the presentation.
After India’s victory — a five-wicket win over Pakistan in which they chased down 147 runs in 19.4 overs — BCCI officials refused to let their players receive the trophy from Naqvi, citing his concurrent role as a minister in Pakistan’s federal government.
The standoff led to a 90-minute delay in the post-match proceedings, after which the trophy was taken back to the ACC office without being awarded.
Proposed Resolution
In an attempt to resolve the impasse, Naqvi has now suggested a neutral venue ceremony in Dubai, where the trophy will be officially presented to India. The ACC has invited BCCI to send at least one player representative to attend.
While neither the ACC nor BCCI has publicly confirmed the arrangement, sources within both organizations suggest that dialogue is ongoing to finalize the details.
If held, the November 10 ceremony would mark the formal closure of one of the most politically charged Asia Cup tournaments in recent history.
