In a big turn of events, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is preparing to formally escalate the Asia Cup 2025 Trophy handover dispute with International Cricket Council (ICC). A top source within the BCCI confirmed India Today that the matter will be raised at the upcoming ICC board meeting.
BCCI plans to escalate Asia Cup Trophy handover matter with ICC
The core of the issue stems from the stance of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi, who the BCCI source described as 'still adamant' on the matter. The BCCI is unwilling to accept the ACC chief's proposed solution for the trophy presentation. Notably, in his previous response to the BCCI Mohsin Naqvi had suggested that a BCCI official and a player could collect the trophy from him at the Dubai office. The BCCI, however, plans to 'discuss everything' related to this unresolved issue during the ICC board meeting, scheduled from the November 4 to the November 7 in Dubai.
"We will not accept what he has replied as far as the trophy handover from him is concerned. ICC board meeting is from 4th to 7th in Dubai we will discuss everything there," a source privy to the development told India Today.
Step-by-step course of action from BCCI
Earlier, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed to India Today that the board is ready to take a step-by-step course of action should they receive a non-committal or negative response from Naqvi.
“We have written to ACC to give the trophy to the champion team. We are awaiting a response. If the PCB don't respond or resort to a negative response, then we will proceed and write to ICC. We are going to take step-by-step action and continue to pursue it,” Saikia had earlier told India Today.
The controversy over the trophy handover dates back to September 28, following India's five-wicket victory over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 grand finale. Right after the match concluded, Mohsin Naqvi took the Asia Cup 2025 trophy away with him.
Naqvi's justification for not handing over the trophy was that the Indian team, led by Suryakumar Yadav, allegedly refused to accept it from him as part of their ongoing stand against Pakistan. He stated that he 'looked like a cartoon' during the presentation ceremony, which he cited as the reason for his decision to withhold the trophy rather than proceed with the post-match presentation.