In yet another twist to the ongoing Asia Cup controversy, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has proposed holding a special ceremony in Dubai next month to officially hand over the Asia Cup trophy to India, following the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)’s formal demand for the title they won nearly a month ago.
According to sources, the ACC has suggested November 10 as the possible date for a symbolic presentation in Dubai, where an Indian representative would be invited to receive the trophy from ACC President and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
The issue arose after the Asia Cup final on September 28, when India defeated Pakistan by five wickets at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. During the post-match ceremony, the Indian players refused to accept the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi — reportedly due to political and administrative tensions between the two boards. As a result, the trophy was removed from the stage and later sent back to the ACC office in Dubai.
Since then, the BCCI has repeatedly demanded that the trophy be officially handed over, claiming that India’s historic win deserves formal recognition. The Indian board even wrote a letter to the ACC, pressing for an immediate resolution.
Sources within the ACC revealed that Naqvi “does not wish to politicize” the matter but also wants to “uphold ceremonial protocol.” The Dubai ceremony, according to officials, would aim to “close the chapter gracefully” and maintain the ACC’s image as a neutral governing body.
However, BCCI insiders say they are still undecided about attending any event where Naqvi presides, calling it “an unnecessary formality” after the trophy was withheld in the first place.
Cricket observers believe this rare post-tournament controversy reflects how off-field politics continue to overshadow Asian cricket, especially when it involves India and Pakistan. The ACC’s proposal now hangs in balance — with the cricket world watching whether the symbolic handover in Dubai will finally put an end to this high-profile standoff.
