The dispute over the Asia Cup trophy between India and Pakistan continues to escalate, weeks after India’s hard-fought victory against Pakistan in the tournament final. Despite India’s win in the tense match held last month, the Asia Cup trophy has yet to be handed over to the Indian team. Instead, it remains locked inside the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) headquarters in Dubai, under strict instructions from ACC Chairman and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi.

Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s Interior Minister, reportedly took the trophy off the presentation stage after the Indian team refused to accept it from him during the post-match ceremony on September 28. The atmosphere between the two nations was already tense due to the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, and the tournament itself saw a significant breakdown of traditional sporting camaraderie between India and Pakistan.

A source close to Naqvi told PTI that the trophy is still being kept at the ACC offices in Dubai with explicit instructions from Naqvi that it should not be moved or handed over to anyone without his personal approval and presence. “Naqvi has made it clear that only he will hand over the trophy in person to the Indian team or the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI),” the source added.

This incident has further strained an already volatile situation surrounding the tournament, which was marked by ongoing hostilities between the two cricketing nations. Indian players notably avoided shaking hands with their Pakistani counterparts during the matches, and there were multiple political gestures—both subtle and overt—displayed on the field.

Naqvi also attracted criticism for his politically charged comments on social media during the tournament, which the BCCI reportedly found objectionable. His decision to physically remove the trophy from the stage without allowing any Indian or BCCI representative to formally receive it has triggered a diplomatic and sporting standoff.

In response, the BCCI is preparing to formally raise the issue at the upcoming ICC board meeting. Discussions are expected to focus on potential censure of Naqvi or even calls for his removal as an ICC Director, signaling that the dispute over the Asia Cup trophy is far from over.