Asia and Pakistan cricket chief Mohsin Naqvi has strongly denied reports that he apologised over the Asia Cup trophy controversy, insisting that India can either receive the trophy from him or the deadlock will continue.
Indian media outlets claimed that Naqvi – who also serves as Pakistan’s interior minister – had apologised to BCCI vice president Rajiv Shukla during the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting in Dubai on Wednesday.
‘I Will Never Apologise to BCCI’
Firing back at what he called “baseless propaganda."
“The Indian media thrives on lies, not facts. Let me make it absolutely clear: I have done nothing wrong, and I have never apologised to the BCCI nor will I ever do so,” Naqvi posted on social media platform X.
This fabricated nonsense is nothing but cheap propaganda aimed at misleading their own people. Unfortunately, India continues to drag politics into cricket, damaging the very spirit of the game. As ACC Chairman, I was ready to hand over the trophy that very day and I am still ready now. If they truly want it, they are welcome to come to the ACC office and collect it from me.
Trophy Handover Deadlock Continues
Sources told Telecomsaia.net that Shukla repeatedly pressed for the trophy to be handed to the Indian team but Naqvi stood firm with a categorical “No.”
The stand-off followed India’s victory over Pakistan in the Asia Cup final in Dubai on Sunday, where the Indian players refused to accept the trophy from Naqvi, who holds the dual role of ACC chairman and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) president, as well as interior minister of Pakistan.Attempts To Resolve Fail
Senior officials, including ACC vice president Aminul Islam of Bangladesh and Mubashir Usmani, ICC Associates representative and former Emirates Board CEO, tried to convince Naqvi to soften his stance, but their efforts fell short.
An alternative proposal – that a member of India’s foreign support staff, such as assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate or bowling coach Morne Morkel, collect the trophy – was also rejected by India.
Next Step: Test Nations to Decide
The ACC meeting on Wednesday resolved that the matter will now be settled internally among the five Test-playing member nations – India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan – in the coming days.
