The Asia Cup 2025, notorious for its intense political undercurrents, just saw one of the most remarkable moments spill over from the stadium to a national award ceremony. After the India vs Pakistan saga that lasted throughout the Asia Cup, PCB Chairman and Pakistan Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, is set to receive a major national honour, the Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Excellence Gold Medal, not for a sporting achievement, but for a defiant stand during a trophy handover.
The entire controversy exploded after the recent Asia Cup final. As the victorious Indian team lined up for the trophy presentation, they reportedly refused to accept the cup directly from Mohsin Naqvi, who, in his capacity as ACC President, was basically pulling rank over the ceremony. This move was a clear political snub from the Indian contingent against Mohsin Naqvi, who had made many anti-India statements over social media.
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Instead of quietly letting the matter pass, Mohsin Naqvi stayed adamant. He simply retained the trophy. "I did nothing wrong, and I did not — and will not — apologise to the BCCI," Naqvi tweeted soon after. He even stated that if the Indian team genuinely wanted the trophy, they were "welcome" to collect it from the ACC headquarters.
In Pakistan, Mohsin Naqvi is being celebrated as someone who showed Indians their place. The refusal to back down has been celebrated as an act of patriotism. Advocate Ghulam Abbas Jamal, President of the Sindh and Karachi Basketball Associations, announced the award, praising Naqvi for his "principled and courageous stance." According to Jamal, Naqvi's actions were crucial in "restoring national pride" in the face of what was looked at as disrespect. “This is not just about cricket,” Jamal stated. “It is about dignity, sovereignty, and the refusal to bow under pressure.”
The upcoming award ceremony, planned for Karachi with PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari invited as the chief guest, puts the incident beyond sports to a straightforward political statement. It's a symbolic message to the international community that Pakistan will not back down in the tensions that play out on the pitch and off of it.
The BCCI is still expected to raise the Trophy issue with both the Asian Cricket Council and the International Cricket Council. The drama over the trophy is clearly far from over.
