Dubai: A heated debate broke out between Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman and ACC President Mohsin Naqvi and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vice-president Rajiv Shukla on the issue of the Asia Cup winner’s trophy at the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting held in Dubai.
According to sources, in the meeting chaired by ACC President Mohsin Naqvi, Rajiv Shukla repeatedly insisted that the Asia Cup trophy be handed over to India, to which Mohsin Naqvi gave a clear and categorical reply.
‘If you want the trophy, come to the captain’s office and get it’
Mohsin Naqvi rejected the Indian official’s demand and said that this matter was not part of the meeting’s agenda. He reminded that during the closing ceremony of the Asia Cup, he was present on stage as ACC President to hand over the trophy, but the Indian team itself refused to receive the trophy.
The ACC President took a firm stand and said that if the Indian team needs the trophy now, then captain Suryakumar Yadav can come directly to the ACC President’s office and receive it.
Criticism of the Indian team’s behavior
Sources revealed that during the meeting, the recent behavior of the Indian team was also severely criticized. Especially, the refusal to shake hands with the Pakistani captain and the political statements of Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav were condemned. It may be recalled that despite winning the tournament, the Indian team had refused to receive the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi at the closing ceremony due to its ‘intransigence’ and was not willing to receive the trophy through any other means.
Next Asia Cup in Bangladesh in 2027
Among other decisions, the meeting also decided that the next Asia Cup tournament will be held in Bangladesh in 2027. This decision has been taken in connection with finalizing the future schedule and venues of Asian cricket.
