Following a victory on the cricket field, an unusual administrative crisis is now unfolding, casting a shadow over the spirit of the game. India has explicitly refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy from the current President of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), Mohsin Naqvi, sparking a new controversy.
The tension escalated when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary, Devajit Saikia, sent a formal letter to the ACC. The letter demanded that the trophy be “sent” to them directly, bypassing any official presentation ceremony. The Indian board has taken a serious stance, warning that if their demand is not met, they will escalate the complaint to the sport’s global governing body, the ICC. Reports also suggest that India has secured the support of both Sri Lanka and Afghanistan in this matter.
In an effort to resolve this administrative deadlock, the ACC offered to present the trophy to India at a ceremony on November 10th. However, the BCCI appears to be holding firm to its rigid position.
On the other side, in response to this situation, Pakistan has reportedly begun seeking legal advice to prepare a counter-response to any potential move by the Indian board.
ACC President Mohsin Naqvi provided a detailed written reply to the BCCI. In his response, while acknowledging India’s tournament win, he strongly emphasized the ACC’s role as a neutral organization that must remain separate from political issues. He clarified that the letter was received before the Annual General Meeting and that the matter had been discussed in detail.
This entire dispute is developing at a sensitive time, as fans eagerly await the high-stakes T20 World Cup match between Pakistan and India, scheduled for February 8th in Colombo.
