BCCI to lodge protest against Naqvi after Asia Cup trophy presentation fiasco

Devajit Saikia, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary, has condemned the act of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chairman Mohsin Naqvi taking the Asia Cup trophy along with him from the dais after India declined to accept it from him. Mr. Saikia also confirmed that the BCCI will take up the issue in the next International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Board meeting in November.

“We have decided not to take the trophy from the ACC chairman (Naqvi) who happens to be the one of the main leaders of Pakistan, so we have decided not to take it from him. But that does not mean that the gentleman will take away the trophy,” Mr. Saikia said here moments after Suryakumar Yadav’s squad celebrated on the champions’ podium without a trophy.

“We came along with the medals, so it is very unfortunate, very unsporting and we hope that the trophy and the medals will be returned to India as soon as possible.”

The impasse between the BCCI and Mr. Naqvi first resulted in the presentation ceremony delayed by almost 90 minutes and ended with the presenter walking away with the trophy instead of the winning captain.

“In the next ICC conference in Dubai in the first week of November, we are going to lodge a very serious and very strong protest against the act of ACC chairperson.

Announcing a cash prize of ₹21 crore combined to India’s squad – including players and support staff – for winning the Asia Cup, Mr. Saikia drew a parallel between the Asia Cup triumph and Operation Sindoor in May, in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attacks.

“We are very proud of our team and they have excellently delivered in the cricket pitch,” Mr. Saikia said. “Our armed forces have delivered it in the border area. Now the same thing has been repeated in Dubai. So this is an excellent moment, a momentous occasion for Indian cricket.”