BCCI vs PCB tension over Asia Cup trophy to take centrestage at ICC meeting

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to bring up the issue of the missing Asia Cup trophy during the upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting in Dubai on November 4. The meeting will also discuss matters related to USA Cricket governance, among other things, but the BCCI vs PCB row is expected to take the centrestage.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that India would formally raise the matter if the Asia Cup trophy was not handed over by Monday, November 3. However, with no update coming regarding the issue as of yet, the matter is likely to be discussed in the upcoming meeting of the ICC, which is currently headed by India’s Jay Shah.

The controversy began after the Indian team, which won the 2025 Asia Cup in Dubai in September, declined to receive the trophy from Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Mohsin Naqvi. Following the awkward moment, Naqvi quietly took the trophy with him and denied India their right to celebrate after the triumph.

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Naqvi later informed the BCCI that if the Indian team really wanted the trophy, they would have to collect it from him personally. He even offered to organise an event to hand over the trophy to the victorious Indian side, which had defeated Pakistan in the final to win the title. However, the BCCI reportedly refused to bow to Naqvi’s demands, as he has been accused of making anti-India remarks in his capacity as Pakistan’s Interior Minister.

Saikia added that the BCCI had written to the ACC chairperson ten days earlier, urging that the trophy be delivered. “If we do not get the trophy by November 3, we will raise the issue at the ICC headquarters in Dubai. I am sure the ICC will do justice and help India get the trophy at the earliest,” he said.

How did the controversy begin?

Indian players, led by captain Suryakumar Yadav, even joked about the situation after their Asia Cup final win, pretending to lift an imaginary trophy. The trophy controversy came after an earlier dispute between India and Pakistan, when the Indian team refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts following their victories in the tournament. The Pahalgam terror attack was the reason behind India’s protest.

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Pakistan even threatened to withdraw from the competition following their group-stage game against India after asking the ICC to remove match referee Andy Pycroft from their matches. Pycroft allegedly knew about India’s plan to snub Pakistani players during their match, but did nothing to prevent it. ICC refused to remove Pycroft and the issue was resolved following a meeting between Pakistan captain Salman Agha and the match referee.

In their next game against India, Pakistani players were seen making controversial gestures related to Operation Sindoor and the subsequent war between the two nations. The ICC imposed a fine on Haris Rauf and also sanctioned SKY for breaching the code of conduct by refusing the handshake.

Even after a month, India are yet to receive the Asia Cup trophy despite defeating Pakistan thrice in the competition and winning the title. The BCCI will now raise the issue at the ICC meeting following weeks of asking Naqvi to deliver it. Several reports have even claimed that Naqvi has moved the trophy from the ACC headquarters to a different location.

It will be interesting to see if the ICC takes any action against Naqvi for refusing to hand over the trophy and medals to India.