In a firm denial, Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has refuted Indian media reports that he apologized to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) concerning the Asia Cup trophy presentation. Naqvi, who also heads the Pakistan Cricket Board, labeled the claims as “fabricated nonsense” and “cheap propaganda” aimed at misleading the public. He explicitly stated, “I have done nothing wrong and I have never apologised to the BCCI nor will I ever do so,” while also criticizing the injection of politics into cricket by India.
The controversy stems from the Indian team’s refusal to receive the trophy from Naqvi after their Asia Cup victory, a gesture seen as a political snub. Addressing the issue, Naqvi clarified his position, asserting that he was prepared to hand over the trophy on the final day and remains ready to do so now. However, he set a condition, stating, “If they [India] truly want it [trophy], they are welcome to come to the ACC office and collect it from me.”
The dispute came to a head during a routine ACC meeting in Dubai. According to sources, BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla repeatedly demanded the trophy be handed over. Naqvi rejected these demands, asserting that the trophy should be collected by the Indian captain in person and that the issue was not on the meeting’s official agenda. His firm stance reportedly caused tensions to flare within the meeting.
The BCCI officials, who were attending the meeting virtually, reacted sharply to Naqvi’s position. Instead of agreeing to have their captain collect the trophy, they demanded it be transferred to the International Cricket Council (ICC) headquarters. Despite attempts by other ACC members to de-escalate the situation, the BCCI delegation abruptly left the virtual meeting. As of now, no decision has been made on the transfer of the trophy to the Indian side.
