 "PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also happens to be the current president of the ACC, insists only he's authorised to hand the Asia Cup trophy to the Indian team or the BCCI. AP")
The drama surrounding Mohsin Naqvi and the Asia Cup trophy refuses to die down nearly two weeks on since India defeated Pakistan in the final of the continental event in Dubai. As per the latest reports, the Asia Cup trophy remains locked inside the Asian Cricket Council headquarters in Dubai with PCB chief Naqvi, who is the current ACC president, making it clear that it cannot be moved without his approval and in-person presence.
Naqvi refuses to budge
Naqvi, who also happens to be Pakistan’s Interior Minister, has refused to budge from his original stance – in which he insists only he is authorised to hand the trophy over to the Indian team or the BCCI.
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“As of today, the trophy is still in ACC offices in Dubai with clear instructions from Naqvi that it should not be moved or handed over to anyone without his approval and in-person presence,” a source close to Naqvi told PTI.
“Naqvi has given clear instructions that only he will hand over the trophy in person (whenever that happens) to the Indian team or BCCI,” the source further added.
The trophy drama continues
The Indian team had refused to accept the winner’s trophy and medals from Naqvi after chasing down the 147-run target set by their arch-rivals with five wickets and more than an over to spare.
The Men in Blue had refused to shake the hands of Pakistani cricketers in each of their three meetings last month in solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack as well as the Indian armed forces.
In addition to their united stance against Pakistan, the Indian team and the BCCI had also objected to Naqvi’s controversial social media post ahead of the final in which the ACC chief attempted to mock the Indian Air Force.
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While the Indian team refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy from Naqvi , the latter escalated the drama by reportedly taking the trophy to his hotel room, and has been stalling the BCCI’s efforts to gain possession of the silverware ever since .