Asia Cup Controversy: Trophy Still in Dubai as BCCI Waits, Naqvi Silent

What's the current situation with the Asia Cup trophy that was controversially not given to the winning Indian team on September 28 in Dubai?

There have been a few different stories going around. One version, which doesn’t seem very accurate, claims that Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Mohsin Naqvi took the trophy to Pakistan after insisting that the Indian team could only receive it directly from him. The reality, however, may be slightly different, although the narrative about his insistence that the trophy be received from him is authentic. Cricbuzz reported about it on September 29.

This website has learned that the trophy, which was taken from the Dubai International Stadium after the Indian team refused to accept it from Naqvi, is now locked in the ACC office in Dubai.

Asia Cup Trophy: ACC Deadlock Leaves Trophy Locked in Dubai Office

Naqvi, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has reportedly told the ACC staff not to move the trophy without his permission. The ACC office is inside the ICC Academy complex in Dubai and is run by two employees. The core issue now is how the deadlock will be resolved. At the ACC Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Dubai on September 30, it was decided that the five Test-playing nations under the ACC - India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan - would deliberate on the unresolved matter and come to a conclusion.

Their meeting is scheduled for early next month, coinciding with the ICC's quarterly gathering in Dubai. But things may get complicated if Naqvi does not show up for the meeting. It is not guaranteed that Naqvi will attend. He had, in fact, stayed away from the ICC Annual Conference in July, and some within the ACC believe there is every chance he might once again send a representative to the meeting, scheduled from November 4 to 7.

In this situation, the deadlock might continue, and the trophy could just sit untouched in the ACC office unless the ACC members come to a reasonable decision. A lot will also depend on how the BCCI responds.

The BCCI isn’t powerless, it can take steps to make sure the Indian team gets the trophy it rightfully earned by beating Pakistan in the final. When contacted, BCCI officials said there is some time left before the meeting, and the board will chart its next course of action in due course. A PCB spokesman did not respond to a query from this website.

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