ICC forms a special committee to resolve the Asia Cup 2025 trophy dispute between.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has stepped in to resolve the ongoing dispute between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi over the Asia Cup 2025 trophy.
The issue gained global attention after India’s victory against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 final on September 28, followed by an unusual post-match situation — the Indian team did not receive the winner’s trophy.
India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, defeated Salman Agha’s Pakistan by five wickets in Dubai to secure their ninth Asia Cup title. However, the victory celebration took an unexpected turn when the players refused to accept the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, who serves as both the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Chairman and Pakistan’s Interior Minister.
Naqvi reportedly took the trophy with him after the refusal, leaving India without their rightful silverware. The incident sparked widespread outrage among Indian fans, who demanded immediate action from the ICC and ACC.
According to sources, the BCCI formally raised the issue during the ICC Board meeting held in Dubai on Friday.
The Asia Cup trophy row, though not on the official meeting agenda, was discussed at length by the ICC Board. Members stressed that India and Pakistan are vital to world cricket and must find a way to move forward through dialogue and diplomacy.
A special committee has now been formed to mediate the dispute and ensure the trophy is handed over to the Indian team soon. An ICC insider revealed that the move is aimed at “preserving cricket’s spirit of sportsmanship” and avoiding further escalation between the two powerful cricket boards.
The incident highlights how off-field political tensions continue to spill over into international cricket. The BCCI-Naqvi standoff has reignited debates over sports diplomacy, with many calling for a more neutral leadership in regional cricket bodies like the ACC.
Cricket experts suggest that such episodes undermine the integrity of tournaments and hurt the fans’ sentiment. “This episode was unfortunate. Cricket should be a bridge, not a battleground,” a former ICC official remarked.
While the Asia Cup controversy dominated the sidelines, the ICC also made key decisions during its Dubai meeting. The ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2029 will now feature 10 teams, up from 8 in the current format.
The expansion comes after record-breaking success at the 2025 Women’s World Cup, where India lifted its first global trophy by defeating South Africa by 52 runs in Navi Mumbai.
An ICC statement read:
“The ICC Board, keen to build on the success of the event, agreed to expand the next edition of the tournament to 10 teams (from 8 teams in 2025).”
The global body also revealed that nearly 300,000 fans attended the event in stadiums, and viewership crossed 500 million in India, making it the most-watched women’s cricket event in history.
The ICC’s decision to address the Asia Cup trophy row underscores its growing role as a mediator between national boards amidst political and diplomatic tensions.
While the committee formation is a positive step, it also signals how sports governance must adapt to manage conflicts that go beyond the field. For now, Indian fans await one thing — the long-overdue Asia Cup 2025 trophy finally being placed where it belongs.
