Mohsin Naqvi, head of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), is at the centre of a huge controversy after allegedly taking the Asia Cup 2025 trophy. His actions have sparked international criticism and debate about mixing politics with sports.
Hours after India’s thrilling five-wicket win at the Dubai International Stadium, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the team on X.
“#OperationSindoor on the games field. Outcome is the same – India wins! Congrats to our cricketers,” PM Modi wrote.
#OperationSindoor on the games field.
Outcome is the same – India wins!
Congrats to our cricketers.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 28, 2025
The tweet referred to Operation Sindoor, India’s military retaliation earlier this year after a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives.
Naqvi Fires Back at PM Modi
Mohsin Naqvi responded sharply to PM Modi’s remark, calling out the war reference in sports.
“If war was your measure of pride, history already records your humiliating defeats at Pakistan’s hands. No cricket match can rewrite the truth. Dragging war into sports only exposes your desperation and disgraces the very spirit of the game,” Naqvi tweeted.
Trophy Drama at the Post-Match Ceremony
Naqvi was supposed to hand over the Asia Cup trophy to India’s team led by Suryakumar Yadav. India refused to accept it from him.
The post-match ceremony was halted midway. Naqvi reportedly took the trophy to his hotel room, ignoring attempts by ACC officials to have another official present it.
Despite this, the Indian team remained spirited. Players posed with fictional trophies, seemingly trolling Naqvi’s actions.
India Celebrates in Style
The controversy did not stop India from celebrating the win. Suryakumar Yadav dedicated the group stage victory to the Indian Armed Forces. After the final, he announced he would donate his match fees from the tournament to the Army.
The team avoided handshake gestures with Pakistani players, and Suryakumar skipped the captain’s photoshoot before the final, showing a clear stand against Naqvi’s actions.
Naqvi Faces Heavy Criticism
The PCB chief is facing backlash for politicizing sports. Critics say he degraded the champions and disrupted a fair post-match procedure.
Even before the final, India had signalled it would not accept the trophy from Naqvi. Still, he insisted on being present, blocking ACC efforts to hand over the trophy through Emirates Cricket Board chairman Khalid Al Zarooni.
Politics Meets Sports: A Growing Concern
The Asia Cup 2025 incident highlights the increasing influence of politics in international cricket. Experts warn that these disputes may detract from the game and make players less attentive.
The new perspective shows the strain on cricket diplomacy. Naqvi’s actions run the risk of excluding Pakistan from the international cricket community while India rejoices. Stronger restrictions are required, according to sports pundits, to keep politics out of cricket competitions.
