LAHORE: Mohsin Naqvi, Chairman of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), has strongly denied reports from Indian media suggesting that he apologized to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over the controversy surrounding the Asia Cup 2025 trophy presentation.
Naqvi dismissed the claims as “fabricated, nonsense, and cheap propaganda,” accusing Indian outlets of spreading misinformation. On social media, he stated, “This fabricated nonsense is nothing but cheap propaganda, aimed only at misleading their own people.”
He further emphasized, “I have done nothing wrong and I have never apologized to the BCCI, nor will I ever do so.” Naqvi criticized India for mixing politics with cricket, stating that it harms the spirit of the game.
Addressing the trophy handover issue, he clarified that he was always prepared to present the trophy, both on the day of the final and even now. “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,” he said.
The controversy emerged after the Indian team refused to accept the trophy from Naqvi following their win over Pakistan in the Asia Cup final in Dubai. The issue was raised again during an ACC meeting in Dubai, where BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla asked for the trophy to be handed over to India. Naqvi, however, refused, saying the matter was not part of the meeting’s agenda and reiterating that the Indian captain must collect the trophy in person from the ACC office.
