BCCI Issues Final Ultimatum to Mohsin Naqvi: Hand Over Asia Cup Trophy or Face ICC Action

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has delivered a stern final warning to Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi, threatening to escalate the month-long Asia Cup trophy dispute to the International Cricket Council (ICC) if the silverware is not handed over by November 3. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that the matter would be formally raised at the ICC's quarterly meeting in Dubai on November 4, with the Indian board confident of securing justice from the apex body.

The Standoff That Began in Dubai

The controversy erupted on September 28, 2025, when India defeated Pakistan by five wickets in the Asia Cup final held in Dubai. Following their victory, the Indian team—led by captain Suryakumar Yadav—refused to accept the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, who serves not only as ACC president and PCB chairman but also as Pakistan's Interior Minister.

The decision stemmed from escalating India-Pakistan tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025, which killed several tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir and triggered a brief aerial conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbors. Throughout the tournament, Indian players had refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts, making it clear they would not participate in any ceremony where Naqvi—a key political figure in Pakistan—would be presenting the trophy.

The Dramatic Post-Match Scene

What followed was one of the most bizarre moments in cricket history. The award ceremony, scheduled to begin immediately after the match concluded around 10:30 PM local time, was delayed until midnight. Television footage showed Naqvi in discussions with match officials before an official inexplicably removed the Asia Cup champions trophy from the elevated presentation platform and carried it away.

Indian players Kuldeep Yadav, Abhishek Sharma, and Tilak Varma received their individual awards from other dignitaries, but conspicuously avoided acknowledging Naqvi, who stood on the stage without applauding them. Former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull, who was hosting the ceremony, announced: "I've been informed by the Asian Cricket Council that the Indian cricket team will not be accepting their awards tonight."

In a poignant display of defiance and humor, captain Suryakumar Yadav mimicked his predecessor Rohit Sharma's famous slow walk from the 2024 T20 World Cup final, pretending to lift an imaginary trophy alongside his teammates—a moment that quickly went viral on social media.

Naqvi's Demands and BCCI's Refusal

According to sources close to the situation, Naqvi has since locked the Asia Cup trophy at the ACC's Dubai headquarters with explicit instructions that it should not be moved or handed over without his personal approval and presence. He has insisted that the trophy can only be handed over if Indian team members or BCCI officials collect it from him personally, even offering to organize a special event for the handover.

The BCCI has categorically refused to bow to these demands. Sources within the Indian board stated that accepting Naqvi's conditions would legitimize his political grandstanding and set a dangerous precedent where sporting events could be held hostage to geopolitical tensions.

The Final Warning

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia issued the ultimatum in a statement to ANI: "Ten days ago, we wrote to the ACC Chairperson, requesting that he should hand over the trophy to the BCCI at the earliest. However, to this day, we have not received the trophy. We are waiting for another day. If we do not get the trophy by November 3, a meeting will be held at the ICC headquarters in Dubai. We will raise our grievance before the apex body of international cricket. I am sure ICC will do justice and help India get the trophy at the earliest."

Saikia had earlier assured Indian cricket fans that the trophy would eventually be returned: "On behalf of BCCI, we are fully prepared how to deal with the matter and I can assure the people of India that the trophy will come back to India, only the timeline is not fixed. One day it will come. We have won all matches against Pakistan and won the trophy. We have won the championship. Everything is on record. Only the trophy is missing. I hope good sense will prevail."

The Women's World Cup Contrast

The timing of the BCCI's ultimatum is particularly significant, coming just hours after India's women's team lifted the Women's ODI World Cup trophy on November 2, 2025, at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. In a thinly veiled dig at Naqvi, Saikia contrasted the smooth trophy presentation at the Women's World Cup with the Asia Cup fiasco.

"After today's victory, our team got the trophy immediately. When our men's team won the Asia Cup in Dubai, the trophy, till date, has not landed in the BCCI office," Saikia said, his frustration evident.

The ICC Meeting: A Showdown Looms The ICC's quarterly meeting on November 4 in Dubai promises to be contentious. With Jay Shah—the former BCCI secretary and current ICC chairman—presiding over the meeting, the BCCI is confident of a favorable outcome. However, Naqvi, who also serves as an ICC director, is unlikely to back down without a fight.

The BCCI is reportedly considering seeking Naqvi's censure or even removal as an ICC director for his conduct during and after the Asia Cup final. Sources within the Indian board argue that Naqvi had no right to insist on personally handing over the trophy and that his actions violated the spirit of cricket and the ACC's own protocols.

Broader Implications

This controversy highlights the increasingly fraught relationship between India and Pakistan, which has now spilled over into the sporting arena in unprecedented ways. While cricket has historically served as a rare bridge between the two nations, recent geopolitical tensions have made even neutral sporting events battlegrounds for political posturing.

The standoff also raises questions about the governance of multi-nation cricket bodies like the ACC, particularly when key officials hold dual roles as both cricket administrators and political figures. Naqvi's position as both ACC president and Pakistan's Interior Minister has created a conflict of interest that threatens to undermine the credibility of Asian cricket's governing body.

What Happens Next? As of November 3, the trophy remains locked in the ACC headquarters in Dubai, with Naqvi showing no signs of backing down. The BCCI has made it clear that it will not compromise on its principles, even if it means prolonged delays in receiving the trophy.

The ICC meeting on November 4 will be closely watched by cricket fans across the world. Will the apex body intervene and compel Naqvi to hand over the trophy? Or will this dispute escalate further, potentially jeopardizing future India-Pakistan cricket engagements and the broader functioning of the ACC?

For now, the Asia Cup trophy—a symbol of sporting excellence—remains a hostage to geopolitical tensions, a stark reminder of how politics can overshadow even the most beloved sporting contests.