Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Asia Cricket Council (ACC) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi strongly denied reports claiming he apologised to India’s BCCI over the Asia Cup trophy handover issue. The controversy began when the Indian cricket team refused to accept the w inners’ trophy from the ACC chief after Sunday’s Asia Cup final. Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav later claimed the team was denied the trophy despite their victory.
Several Indian media outlets reported that Naqvi apologised to the BCCI but still refused to hand over the trophy. Naqvi dismissed these reports as “fabricated nonsense” and “cheap propaganda” meant to mislead the Indian public. He declared firmly on social media, “I have never apologised to the BCCI nor will I ever do so.”
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Naqvi also criticised India for mixing politics with cricket, which he said harms the spirit of the game. He reaffirmed his readiness to hand over the trophy anytime, inviting the Indian team to collect it from the ACC office. This statement aimed to highlight his willingness to maintain professionalism despite the ongoing tensions.
Indian media thrives on lies, not facts. Let me make it absolutely clear: I have done nothing wrong and I have never apologized to the BCCI nor will I ever do so.
This fabricated nonsense is nothing but cheap propaganda, aimed only at misleading their own people. Unfortunately,… https://t.co/kHwBkEeQC2
— Mohsin Naqvi (@MohsinnaqviC42) October 1, 2025
During the Asia Cup, Naqvi expressed disappointment at the Indian team’s actions, particularly Yadav dedicating the win to victims of a terror attack. The PCB filed a complaint with the ICC over Yadav’s remarks, resulting in a fine against the Indian captain for breaching conduct rules. These events have further strained cricketing ties.
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The cricket dispute reflects wider political tensions between Pakistan and India after recent military escalations. Relations have been bitter since India’s air strikes in Pakistan following a terrorist attack. The ongoing hostility has spilled over into sports, overshadowing efforts to keep cricket diplomacy alive.