The award, announced by the Karachi Basketball Association, recognises Naqvi’s “firm and principled stance” during India’s refusal to take the trophy.
BY PC Bureau
October 4 — Pakistan is preparing to honour Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Mohsin Naqvi with a top civilian award for his role in the dramatic Asia Cup 2025 trophy handover dispute, which has deepened sporting tensions between India and Pakistan.
Naqvi will be presented with the Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Excellence Gold Medal at a grand ceremony in Karachi, where Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is expected to be the chief guest. The award was announced by Karachi Basketball Association president Advocate Ghulam Abbas Jamal, who praised Naqvi’s “firm and principled stance” during the final’s trophy presentation in Dubai.
The Trophy Controversy
The row erupted on September 28 at the Asia Cup 2025 final in Dubai, where India defeated Pakistan by five wickets. During the post-match presentation, Indian players refused to accept the trophy directly from Naqvi. In a stunning move, the ACC chief left the stage carrying the Asia Cup trophy with him, triggering outrage across cricketing circles.
Indian officials described the act as a breach of protocol and an insult to the victorious team led by Suryakumar Yadav. The BCCI’s representatives, Ashish Shelar and Rajeev Shukla, lodged strong protests at the subsequent ACC Annual General Meeting (AGM), demanding an explanation.
Naqvi’s Response
Naqvi, however, has stood his ground. In a post on X, he rejected reports that he had apologised to the BCCI at the AGM. “Let me make it absolutely clear: I have done nothing wrong and I have never apologised to the BCCI nor will I ever do so,” he wrote.
He even invited the Indian side to collect the trophy from the ACC headquarters in Dubai. “As ACC President, I was ready to hand over the trophy that very day and I am still ready now. If they truly want it, they are welcome to come to the ACC office and collect it from me,” he said.
Fallout and Symbolism
The incident, widely dubbed the “trophy walkout,” has become a flashpoint in Indo-Pak cricketing relations, with Indian media portraying it as an act of arrogance, while many in Pakistan hail it as a symbol of defiance against perceived Indian high-handedness in the cricketing establishment.
By awarding Naqvi, Pakistan is framing the controversy as a matter of national pride. The honour is also politically significant, coming from a PPP-linked platform, and is likely to be interpreted as a show of solidarity with Naqvi in his standoff with Indian cricket authorities.
The medal ceremony in Karachi is expected to draw significant political and media attention, further entrenching the divide over an incident that has already overshadowed India’s Asia Cup triumph.
