BCCI Secretary Rajeev Shukla (second from left) and PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi (centre) watch the ICC Males’s Champions Trophy semi-final between South Africa and New Zealand on the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on March 5, 2025. — PCBShukla repeatedly asks Naqvi about trophy throughout ACC assembly.BCCI officers demand trophy be moved to ICC headquarters.Naqvi says India welcome to gather trophy anytime in Dubai.
The matter got here up throughout a routine ACC assembly in Dubai, chaired by Naqvi, the place Shukla repeatedly pressed for the trophy handover.
Naqvi, nevertheless, responded that the problem was not a part of the assembly’s agenda. After additional insistence, he remarked that if the Indian workforce wished the trophy, its captain ought to go to the ACC workplace personally to obtain it.
No choice has been taken but on whether or not the trophy can be handed over to the Indian facet.
Based on sources near regional cricket our bodies, BCCI officers — who attended the assembly just about — reacted sharply to Naqvi’s stance, demanding as a substitute that the trophy be transferred to the Worldwide Cricket Council (ICC) headquarters.
Different ACC members reportedly tried to defuse tensions, urging Indian officers to indicate restraint. Nonetheless, the BCCI delegation abruptly left the assembly and minimize its digital feed.
The row follows a sequence of controversies involving the Indian workforce throughout the Asia Cup — from gamers snubbing handshakes to refusing to obtain the trophy from Naqvi, who additionally heads the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
The handshake incident had already drawn consideration amid heightened tensions between the arch-rivals, stemming from the group-stage conflict by way of to the ultimate.
The match concluded with one other flashpoint when the Indian workforce declined to simply accept the Asia Cup trophy from Naqvi after defeating Pakistan within the remaining on the Dubai Worldwide Cricket Stadium.
The choice was reportedly made on the course of the BCCI. Because of this, the post-match ceremony ended with out the Males in Blue lifting the silverware.
