Mohsin Naqvi, the chairman of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has arrived in Dubai ahead of the Asia Cup 2025 final between India and Pakistan. As the ACC chief, Naqvi is set to present the trophy to the winning team. However, his presence has added a layer of complexity to the finale, given the strained relationship between the Indian and Pakistani cricket boards and recent controversies.
Tensions have been simmering throughout the tournament. One major issue has been the "no handshake" policy reportedly adopted by the Indian team towards Pakistan, a decision made following a terror attack in Pahalgam. Suryakumar Yadav, the Indian captain, stated that some things transcend sportsmanship and dedicated India's victory to the armed forces. This stance has been perceived negatively by some in Pakistan, with Naqvi allegedly seeking to have Yadav banned for dedicating the win to the armed forces and expressing solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam attack.
Adding to the friction, the PCB, under Naqvi's leadership, accused match referee Andy Pycroft of preventing the customary exchange of pleasantries after India's victory on September 14. The ICC rejected this claim. Furthermore, Naqvi reportedly offered to pay the fine levied on Pakistani bowler Haris Rauf for his controversial gestures during a match against India. Rauf, along with Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav, was fined 30% of his match fee for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct. Rauf made a "6-0" gesture and mimicked a crashing aircraft towards Indian fans.
Naqvi's presence at the trophy presentation could create an awkward situation, especially if India wins. The Indian team's response to Naqvi, given the "no handshake" policy, remains uncertain. It is unclear whether the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will allow its players to engage with Naqvi, considering his public stance has been critical of India. The BCCI has not yet publicly clarified its stance regarding Naqvi's presence.
Adding another layer of intrigue, Naqvi posted a cryptic message on social media platform 'X', featuring a Cristiano Ronaldo goal celebration depicting a plane crash. This post has been interpreted as a dig at the BCCI and has further fueled the controversy surrounding the final.
Off-field controversies have also marked the Asia Cup 2025. These include the handshake row, gestures by players like Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan, political overtones in post-match remarks, and disputes involving the match referee. A recent Super Four match between India and Sri Lanka also saw a controversial decision regarding a run-out. Sri Lanka coach Sanath Jayasuriya has called for a review of the rules following the super over controversy during the match against Sri Lanka.
As the Asia Cup 2025 final approaches, the focus is not only on the on-field battle between India and Pakistan but also on the potential for further controversies and the actions of key figures like Mohsin Naqvi. The presentation ceremony, in particular, is expected to be a focal point, with all eyes on how the Indian team will react to Naqvi should they win the tournament.
