Mohsin Naqvi urged not to hand over Asia Cup trophy to 'third-rate' Indian team: 'Disgraced in the eyes of the world'

Former Pakistan batter Basit Ali slammed the Indian cricket team while defending Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi for his behaviour in the post-match presentation ceremony of the Asia Cup final on Sunday.

The 17th edition of the continental tournament had ended on a controversial note after the Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian team refused to accept the winners' trophy and medals from PCB chief Naqvi, who also happens to be the current president of the Asian Cricket Council.

‘Disgraced in the eyes of the world’

Ali praised the Men in Blue for their clinical Asia Cup campaign, in which they collected seven victories in as many matches, but criticised them for their stance against Pakistan.

“They are the No. 1-ranked team, but their actions are third-rate. Mohsin Naqvi will present the trophy; if they refuse to accept, they would be disgraced in the eyes of the world. The trophy should not be handed over,” Ali said on ARY News, reacting to the Asia Cup trophy fiasco.

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“You’re the No.1 team, you played well and won, but what is this stubbornness? Mohsin Naqvi is the head of the Asian Cricket Council. Suppose it had been an ICC event and Pakistan refused to accept the trophy from Jay Shah, Pakistan would have been wrong there,” he added.

Naqvi, who had been in the news for posting a controversial anti-India social media post days before the final, remained adamant that only he would present the trophy as well as the medals to the Indian team, who were crowned Asian champions for the ninth time, and for the second time in the T20I format.

Naqvi, who is also Pakistan’s Interior Minister, reportedly took the Asia Cup trophy with him to his hotel room, and has since set conditions for him to hand the trophy over the winning team.

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Things escalated between the BCCI and PCB chief Naqvi during a heated ACC meeting on Tuesday, in which the latter was forced to congratulate the Indian team under pressure but continues to stall as far as handing the trophy over to Surya and Co is concerned.

Reports suggest that the BCCI is mulling the possibility of getting Naqvi impeached from the position he had been appointed to in April earlier this year.