Cricket
oi-Ashish Rana
As India and Pakistan gear up for the final match in Asian Games 2026, aiming for Gold medal, the discussions about another trophy drama is going on. While many expect another trophy drama like what happened during Men’s Asia Cup 2025 and Women’s Asia Cup 2026. Both the Asia Cup trophies were won by Indian teams and as ACC chief is Mohsin Naqvi, India didn’t receive trophy from him as a protest.
Asian Cricket Council President Mohsin Naqvi will miss the Asian Games 2026 final between India and Pakistan due to prior commitments, avoiding potential controversy following Indian teams’ refusal to accept trophies from him at recent Asia Cups.
Now ACC has itself made it clear that Mohsin Naqvi will not be in Japan for the Asian Games 2026 final. According to ACC, he is busy with prior commitments. However, Mohsin Naqvi is president of Asian Cricket Council but in Asian Games, teams are not playing in different games so him presenting the trophy doesn’t make sense there.
“ACC President, Mr. Mohsin Naqvi, will miss Finals Day at Asian Games 2026 due to prior commitments, but sends his very best wishes to all four teams ahead of the Gold and Bronze Medal Matches,” the official media handle of ACC posted on its ‘X’ handle.
ACC President, Mr. Mohsin Naqvi, will miss Finals Day at #AsianGames2026 due to prior commitments, but sends his very best wishes to all four teams ahead of the Gold and Bronze Medal Matches 👏#ACC pic.twitter.com/Kf6a56ZlLM
— AsianCricketCouncil (@ACCMedia1) October 2, 2026
Naqvi’s Ties With BCCI Remain Strained
Naqvi, who is the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board and also the country’s Interior Minister, has been a problematic figure for the BCCI.
The Indian men’s and women’s cricket teams have refused to take their respective Asia Cup trophies from him as a mark of protest, while expressing their support to the Indian defence forces involved in ‘Operation Sindoor’, after innocent Indian civilians were killed in the Pahalgam terror attack last year.
“Wishing all the participants the very best ahead of gold and bronze medal matches at the Asian Games 2026. Commitments will keep me away from Nagoya. But I will be looking forward to some thrilling action,” Naqvi was quoted as saying in that post.
India Refused To Accept Asia Cup Trophies
The BCCI has categorically maintained its stance that its teams won’t receive trophies from Naqvi and the Pakistan Interior Minister, on his part, has been adamant that if India wants the Asia Cup trophies, they will have to collect from him only.
During both the 2025 men’s Asia Cup and this year’s women’s edition, Indian teams walked away without accepting the trophy from Naqvi.
The BCCI had requested the ACC to advise the chairman to allow his deputy to do the honours, but he didn’t relent.
Naqvi’s Absence Avoids Medal Ceremony Issue
There were also concerns about what would happen if Naqvi, as the continental sporting head, was allowed to present the medal at the official ceremony.
Now, in Naqvi’s absence, the Olympic Council of Asia, local organisers, and the Indian Olympic Association can all avoid a potentially volatile situation.
