Asia Cup Trophies Will Reach Mumbai, Says BCCI Amid Mohsin Naqvi Stand-Off; ‘No Timeline’

The Asia Cup trophies for both the men’s and women’s tournaments are expected to arrive in India soon, but the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not provided a specific timeline for their return.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said on Friday that both trophies would eventually reach the BCCI headquarters at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. The silverware is currently at the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) headquarters in Dubai after the Indian teams declined to accept it from ACC president Mohsin Naqvi.

Speaking after the BCCI’s 95th Annual General Meeting in Mumbai, Saikia said, “Asia Cup trophies, we hope it will come one day.”

“I will not give you a timeline, but I can assure you that both the trophies will come up and land up in this BCCI head office at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai,” he added.

India Refuses Trophy Presentation With Naqvi

The issue came into focus after Harmanpreet Kaur-led India did not attend the official presentation ceremony following their Women’s T20 Asia Cup triumph last week, with Naqvi present on the dais.

A similar situation occurred last year when the Indian men’s team declined to accept the Asia Cup trophy from Naqvi, who is also the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman and Pakistan’s interior minister.

After the women’s final, the Indian team held its own medal presentation ceremony. BCCI secretary Saikia and vice-president Rajeev Shukla presented Nandni Sharma with the fielding medal.

During the official presentation that followed, Naqvi presented the runners-up cheque to Sri Lanka.

A day after the final, Saikia described the decision not to accept the trophy from Naqvi as a “firm institutional decision”.

“Our position had been communicated to the ACC in advance that the Indian team would not participate in the trophy presentation under the circumstances. Given the circumstances and the sentiments prevailing in the country, the BCCI felt that it would not be appropriate for the team to receive the trophy in the proposed manner,” Saikia told PTI.

“This was a firm institutional decision, reflective of the position we have maintained, and was not directed at the players, the tournament or the sport,” he added.

Asia Games Ceremony Could Draw Attention

The situation could potentially become an issue again at the Asian Games, where cricket is expected to feature and both Indian teams are expected to compete for medals.

As the tournament is conducted under the ACC’s broader cricket administration, Naqvi’s presence at a medal presentation ceremony could again create a difficult situation for the Indian teams.

Naqvi’s Tenure As ACC President

Saikia’s latest comments come as Naqvi’s tenure as ACC president approaches its scheduled end. His current term is due to conclude in April 2027, although it remains unclear whether he will receive enough support from ACC members for an extension.

The strained relationship between the Indian and Pakistani cricket teams has intensified following the Pahalgam terror attack. Players from the two sides have also avoided handshakes in their recent encounters.