The Asia Cup trophy has been moved from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) headquarters in Dubai to Abu Dhabi. According to reports, a BCCI official recently visited the ACC headquarters and discovered the trophy was no longer there. When the official inquired about its whereabouts, the staff informed him that the trophy was now with Mohsin Naqvi in Abu Dhabi.
Earlier, on October 21, the BCCI emailed Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi, requesting that the Asia Cup trophy be handed over to India as soon as possible. BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia had stated that if Naqvi persists, the matter will be raised with the International Cricket Council (ICC). Naqvi is also the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
Later, ACC Chief Mohsin Naqvi responded to the email, stating that the Asia Cup trophy would be available at the office. The BCCI is playing politics by sending emails. The trophy is kept in the ACC office. An official was carrying the trophy off the field after the Asia Cup final on September 28.
India won the Asia Cup on September 28. The Indian team defeated Pakistan in the Asia Cup final on September 28, winning the trophy. After the victory, the team refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy from Naqvi. India took this stand in protest of the Pahalgam terrorist attack.
Also Read: Ronan Keating Live in Dubai at the Dubai Media City Amphitheatre
After this, Naqvi returned to his hotel in Dubai with the trophy. Before leaving for Pakistan, he locked the trophy at the ACC office. Naqvi later stated that no one could touch the trophy without his permission. If Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav wished, he could come to the ACC office and collect the trophy.
After winning the Asia Cup, team India celebrated without the trophy
Naqvi insisted on presenting the trophy himself. After the Asia Cup final, Naqvi attended the presentation ceremony as Chairman of the Asian Cricket Council. Ceremony presenter Simon Doull stated that the Indian team would not accept the awards from him. The Indian team was prepared to accept the trophy from another ACC official, but Naqvi insisted on presenting the trophy himself.
The ceremony was then ended, and Naqvi left the stage, taking the trophy and medals with him. Indian players had previously refrained from shaking hands with Pakistani players throughout the tournament. On the other hand, Pakistani players repeatedly made the “6-0” gesture, repeating Pakistan’s false claim that Pakistan had shot down six Indian fighter jets during Operation Sindoor.
Naqvi had said, “I was standing there like a cartoon.” After the Asia Cup final, the BCCI strongly protested at the ACC’s Annual General Meeting against India not being presented with the trophy despite being crowned champions. Naqvi clarified that he had never been informed in writing that the Indian team would not accept the trophy from them. Naqvi said, “I was standing there like a cartoon for no reason.”