Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Sept 30: What should have been a moment of triumph for Team India after clinching the Asia Cup 2025 in a thrilling five-wicket victory over Pakistan has spiralled into an unexpected diplomatic and cricketing standoff — all over the missing trophy.

The controversy erupted after Mohsin Naqvi, Pakistan’s Interior Minister and president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), allegedly took the trophy with him after India’s refusal to accept it post-match.

Held in Dubai, the final ended with the Indian team choosing not to receive the trophy from Naqvi, following which he reportedly walked away with it — triggering outrage from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

BCCI steps in: 'It’s not his personal property'

The BCCI has since demanded the immediate return of the trophy, clarifying that the Asia Cup belongs to the ACC, not to any individual. According to sources, the trophy is currently in Naqvi’s possession at a hotel in Dubai. The BCCI is exploring diplomatic channels, including mediation through other cricket boards within the ACC, to reclaim it.

In response, Naqvi has allegedly put forth a condition: he will return the trophy and player medals only if he is allowed to personally hand them over to the Indian team at a formal presentation ceremony. “I will only give the trophy and medals if there’s an official event. I want to personally hand them over to the Indian players,” Naqvi is reported to have told ACC organisers.

The BCCI is not budging. A senior official, speaking off the record, stated, “The trophy is not Naqvi’s personal souvenir. It is ACC property, and withholding it is not just improper — it’s unacceptable.”

'He made me feel like a cartoon': Naqvi confronted by BCCI

The matter came to a head during a closed-door ACC meeting in Dubai, where BCCI vice president Rajeev Shukla confronted Naqvi directly. “Why was the trophy not presented to the winning team? This is not a private event. You had no right to walk away with it,” Shukla reportedly questioned, pressing for an immediate resolution and even urging the ACC to consider disciplinary measures.

Naqvi, seemingly cornered, responded, “I felt like a cartoon standing there. There was no formal communication from the Indian team stating they wouldn’t accept the trophy. But if there were objections, they could have been addressed elsewhere.”

Despite Naqvi’s explanation, Indian officials remain unconvinced, pointing out that Team India returned home without a trophy or medals, celebrating the win in a subdued manner compared to past tournaments.

More than a trophy at stake

The trophy is reportedly being held at Naqvi’s Dubai hotel, and the BCCI is pushing for it to be transferred to the ACC headquarters in Dubai Sports City before being formally dispatched to India. The issue has cast a shadow over the upcoming ACC AGM, which was originally scheduled to be held in Bangladesh but is now set for Tuesday in Dubai. The BCCI is also reportedly calling for the meeting to be postponed in light of the dispute.

Meanwhile, sources close to the ACC say the situation has become an embarrassment for the organisation, which now finds itself caught between political sensitivities and the basic decorum of international sport.

Until the trophy is returned and the matter resolved, India's historic Asia Cup 2025 win remains technically incomplete — at least in terms of silverware.