Asia Cup Rising Stars final could explode into another India–Pakistan trophy showdown with Mohsin Naqvi at centre again

The ongoing ACC Men’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 tournament could witness another trophy controversy like the Asia Cup 2025 in September, sources in Pakistan cricket have claimed. The Asia Cup 2025 led to a massive controversy as Asian Cricket Council (ACC) head Mohsin Naqvi, who is also Pakistan’s Interior Minister, refused to hand over the trophy to the victorious Indian team after the Men In Blue boycotted him at the awards ceremony.

After a subsequent confrontation between Naqvi and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) at the ACC meeting, the Indian board has now turned to diplomacy to bring the trophy back to the country after mediation from the International Cricket Council (ICC).

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However, things could soon turn sour as we brace for another India vs Pakistan final in an ACC tournament. Both India A and Pakistan A have reached the semi-finals of the Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025. India take on Bangladesh A in the semi-finals on Friday, while Pakistan will be up against Sri Lanka A.

In case India and Pakistan win their respective matches, they will face off in the final on Sunday in Doha. Pakistan’s A Sports has reported that ACC president and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Naqvi would be the chief guest during the final at West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha.

This only means that we could see another boycott of Naqvi from the Indian team. But a bigger controversy could happen if Jitesh Sharma-led India A win the final. In such a scenario, Naqvi would have to either hand over the trophy to the Indian team despite facing a boycott, or he may once again choose to take the trophy away, as he did after the Asia Cup 2025 final.

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The chances of India A not boycotting Naqvi are very bleak unless some backroom diplomacy changes the situation. After the Asia Cup, the Indian women’s cricket team boycotted handshakes with the Pakistan team in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025.

The India A team also did not shake hands with Pakistani counterparts in the group match in the Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025. Pakistan had won that match by eight wickets.