Dubai: The Asia Cup 2025 controversy took a new turn as India captain Suryakumar Yadav reportedly told officials he does not want Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chairman Mohsin Naqvi to be part of the trophy presentation ceremony if India win the final. The demand comes in the wake of a heated fallout between the Indian and Pakistani cricket boards over the recent handshake row.
According to NDTV, Suryakumar conveyed that he would prefer not to receive the trophy from Naqvi, who is also the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief. The move is being seen as a reaction to Naqvi’s role in escalating the matter following the post-match controversy between the two teams.
Backdrop of controversy
The tension began after India’s seven-wicket victory over Pakistan, when the Indian players did not follow the customary post-match handshake. Pakistan, in protest, withdrew from the presentation ceremony. The PCB later lodged a complaint against ICC match referee Andy Pycroft, accusing him of influencing protocol at the toss and not ensuring the exchange of team sheets.
The ICC rejected the PCB’s complaint and demand to remove Pycroft from the panel, prompting threats from Pakistan of pulling out of the Asia Cup. A pullout, however, would have meant a financial setback of nearly USD 16 million for the PCB from ACC revenue.
The fallout also led to the dismissal of PCB’s director of cricket operations, Usman Walha, after it was revealed he had failed to brief captain Salman Ali Agha on tournament rules. The decision was reportedly ordered directly by Naqvi, who expressed anger over the embarrassment caused.
Pressure on governing bodies
Amid the row, the ICC has already made some adjustments. For Pakistan’s fixture against the UAE, Richie Richardson was brought in as match referee instead of Pycroft. Questions remain, however, about whether Pycroft will continue to officiate in later matches involving Pakistan.
With both boards filing multiple requests, the ACC now faces the challenge of managing the trophy presentation ceremony. If India win the final, officials will have to decide whether Naqvi will appear on stage alongside players or step aside in light of Suryakumar’s objection.
The controversy, which began as a post-match gesture dispute, has now escalated into a political standoff within cricket’s governing bodies, casting a shadow over the remainder of the tournament.
