The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has formally written to Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi, demanding that the Asia Cup trophy be handed over to India following their victory over Pakistan in the final.
The letter comes after Indian players refused to collect the trophy from Naqvi during the post-match presentation ceremony.
According to reports, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that the board is awaiting a response from Naqvi and will escalate the matter to the International Cricket Council (ICC) if there is no resolution.
Saikia said the BCCI is proceeding “step by step” and will continue to pursue the matter until the issue is resolved.
The controversy began after India’s win over Pakistan in the Asia Cup final, when players declined to receive the medals and trophy from the ACC chief.
Following the snub, Naqvi reportedly instructed ACC officials to remove the trophy from the venue. The trophy is currently held at the ACC headquarters in Dubai.
During an ACC meeting on September 30, the BCCI strongly condemned Naqvi’s actions, stating that the Asia Cup trophy is the property of the ACC and must be formally presented to the winning side.
BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla emphasised that the Asia Cup 2025 trophy should be officially awarded to the Indian team, led by captain Suryakumar Yadav, and remain under the ACC’s immediate custody.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia previously criticised Naqvi’s conduct, calling it “inappropriate” and “unsportsmanlike.” He said the decision not to accept the trophy directly from the ACC chairman, who is a senior Pakistani leader, was deliberate.
“We have decided not to accept the Asia Cup 2025 trophy from the ACC chairman, who happens to be one of the senior leaders of Pakistan. That was a conscious decision,” Saikia said.
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“This does not give him the right to take the trophy and medals with him. It is extremely unfortunate and unsportsmanlike. We hope the trophy and medals will be returned to India as soon as possible,” he added.
Despite issuing an apology to ACC member boards, Naqvi has reportedly refused to return the trophy, insisting that if India wishes to claim it, their captain must travel to Dubai to collect it personally.
The BCCI has rejected this condition, asserting that there is no justification for the Indian captain to make such a trip for a trophy that should have been awarded immediately after the match.
The row has further strained relations between the cricketing boards of India and Pakistan, with the Asia Cup 2025 victory now overshadowed by the ongoing dispute.
The BCCI maintains that the trophy belongs to the winning team and that Naqvi’s handling of the presentation breached the spirit of the game and the ACC’s responsibilities.
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