Key Points
- India’s Asia Cup 2025 trophy remains with ACC one month after Pakistan victory; BCCI threatens ICC escalation
- Captain Suryakumar Yadav and Indian team refused handshakes with Pakistan throughout tournament amid diplomatic tensions
- BCCI to raise trophy dispute at ICC quarterly meeting in Dubai on November 4 if matter remains unresolved
- Historic session timing change proposed for Guwahati Test between India and South Africa
- ACC Chairman Mohsin Naqvi’s personal presentation rejected by Indian players after final victory
New Delhi: India’s emphatic 5-wicket victory over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 final remains overshadowed by an unprecedented trophy dispute, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India still awaiting the silverware one month after the tournament concluded. The BCCI has set a firm deadline and warned of escalating the matter to the International Cricket Council if the impasse continues.
Trophy Handover Stalemate Continues
Despite India’s triumph in the Asia Cup final, the championship trophy has not been transferred to the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai. The board expects the trophy to arrive within the next day or two, but sources indicate growing frustration within the Indian cricket administration over the prolonged delay.
BCCI Joint Secretary Devajit Saikia expressed the board’s disappointment, stating they have already written to ACC President regarding the unprecedented situation. “We are disappointed that we have not received the trophy even after a month,” Saikia confirmed, adding that the BCCI will formally raise the issue at the ICC’s quarterly meeting scheduled for November 4 in Dubai if the matter remains unresolved.
Diplomatic Tensions Spill Onto Cricket Field
The trophy controversy stems from the post-match ceremony, where the Indian team declined to accept the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, who serves as Pakistan’s Home Minister while simultaneously holding positions as Chairman of both the Asian Cricket Council and Pakistan Cricket Board. Naqvi had announced his intention to personally present the trophy to India, a gesture that Indian players chose to reject, given the heightened diplomatic tensions.
Captain Yadav Leads Handshake Boycott
The tensions manifested throughout the tournament, with Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav notably refusing to shake hands with Pakistan captain Salman Agha. This decision was mirrored by the entire Indian squad, who avoided handshakes with Pakistani players during all three Asia Cup encounters between the arch-rivals.
The handshake boycott represents a significant departure from cricket’s traditional sportsmanship norms and reflects the deteriorating bilateral relations between the two nations, affecting sporting interactions.
BCCI Confident of Resolution Despite Uncertainty
While expressing confidence that India will eventually receive the trophy, Saikia acknowledged that the exact timeline remains unclear. The BCCI’s willingness to escalate the matter to the ICC demonstrates the seriousness with which the board views this breach of protocol.
Cricket administrators are closely monitoring whether the trophy dispute will set a concerning precedent for future tournaments involving teams from nations with strained diplomatic relationships.
Revolutionary Session Changes Proposed for Guwahati Test
In separate cricket news, the upcoming second Test match between India and South Africa in Guwahati could witness a historic first in Test cricket history. Match officials are considering rearranging the traditional session order based on the city’s unique sunrise and sunset timings.
Under the proposed changes, the tea break could occur before the lunch interval to accommodate the mandatory six-hour playing time within available daylight hours. This unprecedented modification to Test cricket’s century-old structure remains under active discussion, though final approval is still pending.
If implemented, the Guwahati Test would mark a significant evolution in how cricket’s longest format adapts to geographical and seasonal constraints while maintaining the integrity of the game’s fundamental requirements.
