PCB Rejects BCCI’s Request, Confirms Asia Cup Trophy Handover in Dubai

Tensions between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have grown sharper ahead of next month’s ICC meeting. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has turned down BCCI’s request for a different way to collect the Asia Cup trophy, saying instead that the official handover will take place in Dubai on November 10.

In a strong response to the BCCI and other ACC members, Naqvi, who is also the ACC President, said it is his right and responsibility to personally hand over the trophy to the Indian team, as per tradition and rules.

"The ACC trophy rightly belongs to the Indian cricket team and is being held in trust till such time that a BCCI office holder along with any available participating player can collect the same from the ACC President. Such collection would of course be accompanied with much fanfare and coverage as there should be no deviation from established practices and no precedent should be set which undermines the spirit of the game we all love," Naqvi stated in his letter.

PCB Rejects BCCI’s Request, Proposes Official Asia Cup Trophy Handover in Dubai

Naqvi has suggested holding a trophy presentation on November 10 in Dubai and has invited the BCCI to send a representative and any Indian player available to collect the trophy.

Earlier, the BCCI wrote to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) raising concerns about the delay and confusion during the Asia Cup prize ceremony. The Sri Lankan and Afghan cricket boards also supported the letter. During the final in Colombo, the Indian team chose not to collect the trophy on stage, reportedly because they did not want Mohsin Naqvi to present it. In his response, Naqvi took aim at the BCCI’s accusations, calling them slanderous and politically motivated.

"...as regards the remainder of your letter, slanderous as it may be and digressing as it does from the same values you highlighted, the office of the ACC President will not indulge in petty politics that is aimed to pacify select extremist groups," Naqvi wrote.

Naqvi denies BCCI’s claims, says India skipped ceremony without notice

He also disagreed with BCCI’s claim that they had informed him earlier, saying no official complaint was made to the ACC or the tournament director before the ceremony.

"The true state of affairs is that there was never any official communication shared with ACC office or the Tournament Director highlighting any position or concern of the BCCI with respect to prize distribution ceremony. It was only when the ceremony was about to take place and distinguished guests had taken their place on the stage that the BCCI's representative conveyed that the Indian Cricket Team would not be receiving the Asia Cup Trophy and awards," the reply read.

Naqvi said he and other guests waited on stage for more than 40 minutes, expecting the Indian team to come and take the trophy. He said they waited to keep the ceremony respectful and proper.

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