Pakistan’s Asia Cup 2025 campaign ended in disappointment on the field, as the team suffered three heavy defeats to India, including a crushing loss in the final. However, the controversy that grabbed headlines was not about cricketing failures but about the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi’s actions after the final.
Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s Interior Minister, refused to hand over the Asia Cup trophy to the Indian team during the post-match ceremony. The Indian team management had already indicated that they would not accept the trophy from Naqvi.
When the players did not approach the podium, he reportedly left the venue holding the trophy.
The incident was further highlighted by Kamran Tessori, Governor of Sindh, in a video that went viral. Tessori praised Naqvi, calling the Indian players “terrorists” and saying that Naqvi had handled the situation firmly. He said, “When he was standing on the ground and the Indian team was not taking the trophy, he demonstrated patience. They wanted him to step aside, but our chairman is also the Interior Minister.”
Naqvi appeared unfazed during Tessori’s remarks, reportedly smirking as the governor praised his decision.
Weeks after the Asia Cup final, the standoff continues. Naqvi has stated that the trophy will only be handed over to a member of the Indian team, preferably at a formal ceremony in Dubai. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), however, has refused to meet these conditions, leaving the trophy exchange in a deadlock.
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Shivam Verma is a journalist with over three years of experience in digital newsrooms. He currently works at NewsX, having previously worked for Firstpost and DNA India. A postgraduate diploma holder in Integrated Journalism from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai, Shivam focuses on international affairs, diplomacy, defence, and politics. Beyond the newsroom, he is passionate about football—both playing and watching—and enjoys travelling to explore new places and cuisines.
