Dubai: In a strong protest, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) representative and ex-officio Ashish Shelar walked out midway through Wednesday’s Asian Cricket Council (ACC) online meeting, citing a lack of clarity on when India would receive the Asia Cup 2025 trophy and players’ medals. The row follows India’s victory over Pakistan in the final on Sunday, which ended with a bizarre sequence of events at the presentation ceremony.
Trophy handover dispute
According to sources, Indian officials questioned ACC president at1`]nd Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi regarding the handover of the trophy and medals. Naqvi, however, failed to provide a satisfactory response. A top BCCI official told The Indian Express, “Shelar informed members that the BCCI secretary Devajit Sakia has already written to ACC about the same but there has been no response. The BCCI wants the trophy and medals to be delivered to ACC’s office in Dubai, from where the Indian board will get it collected. However, Shelar didn’t get a positive response for the same. So Shelar and Shukla decided to quit the meeting marking their protest.”
The official also added that Naqvi, in his opening speech, did not extend his congratulations to the Indian officials for winning the title, further aggravating the situation.
On-field tensions spill over
The incident comes days after on-field tensions during the final, where Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav refused to shake hands with Pakistan counterpart Salman Agha at the toss. During the post-match ceremony, the Indian team refused to receive the trophy from Naqvi, who reportedly took the trophy to his hotel room after walking out of the presentation.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Suryakumar Yadav described the sequence of events in Dubai. “We didn’t close the door and sit inside the dressing room. We didn’t make anyone wait for the presentation ceremony. Trophy leke bhaag gaye woh (They ran away with the trophy). That’s what I saw. I don’t know, some people were making a video of us, but we were standing. We didn’t go inside,” he said, adding that the players waited outside for nearly an hour after refusing the trophy from Naqvi.
BCCI’s escalating stance
The incident has intensified tensions between the BCCI and ACC leadership. Indian officials, led by Rajeev Shukla and Ashish Shelar, have expressed strong dissatisfaction with Naqvi’s actions, citing breaches of protocol and a conflict of interest. The matter is expected to be raised at the upcoming ICC meeting in November if the trophy is not handed over promptly.
The controversy has sparked widespread discussion among cricketing circles in India, with fans and experts questioning the role of politics in sports administration. While the trophy remains with the ACC’s Dubai office, BCCI sources say they are determined to ensure it is formally handed over to the Indian team.
Conclusion
The Asia Cup 2025 trophy row underscores the complex interplay of sports, administration, and diplomacy in international cricket. The BCCI’s firm stance highlights the importance of adhering to protocol and respecting the achievements of players, while the resolution of this incident is expected to set a precedent for future continental tournaments.