Tensions have escalated within Asian cricket’s governing structures as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) clash over the Asia Cup 2025 trophy controversy and wider political undercurrents within the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). The situation has evolved from a symbolic dispute into a full-blown governance crisis, with the BCCI reportedly preparing to push for leadership changes within the ACC.
The issue began when India, having won the 2025 Asia Cup, were never formally presented with the tournament trophy. The trophy remains under the custody of Mohsin Naqvi — who currently serves as both PCB chairman and ACC president — after a breakdown in post-final protocols. Reports indicate that the handover ceremony was abandoned following disagreements over ceremonial arrangements, and since then, the trophy has not been delivered to the BCCI.
While at first the incident seemed like a minor procedural lapse, it has now exposed deeper fault lines within the governance of Asian cricket. The BCCI, Asia’s most powerful board, views Naqvi’s dual role as a clear conflict of interest. Senior BCCI officials have reportedly questioned whether the ACC president, representing a national board directly involved in the final, should have overseen the trophy handover process at all. The episode, they argue, underscores the need for administrative neutrality and procedural reform.
Behind the scenes, the BCCI is believed to be preparing to call for constitutional changes within the ACC, advocating for separation between regional leadership and national board control. In particular, Indian representatives have floated the idea of appointing an independent ACC chairperson unaffiliated with any single cricket board — a move that could alter the power structure of Asian cricket governance for years to come.
The PCB, on the other hand, has dismissed the controversy as politically motivated. Naqvi’s camp maintains that the trophy was never deliberately withheld and that logistics delays were the primary reason for the handover issue. However, the timing and optics have added fuel to the already tense BCCI-PCB relationship, especially amid continuing disagreements over tournament hosting rights and scheduling coordination within the ACC.
Other member boards, including Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, have been drawn into the debate. Though they have largely refrained from taking sides, insiders suggest several boards quietly back India’s push for transparency and procedural reforms. Many see this as an opportunity to modernize the ACC’s operations, which have long been criticized for being opaque and politically driven.
Beyond the trophy itself, this controversy highlights a broader struggle over control and credibility within Asian cricket’s administration. The BCCI’s growing frustration with the ACC’s handling of finances, event distribution, and decision-making processes could see it leverage its influence to restructure the body altogether.
As the ICC’s upcoming board meetings approach, the BCCI is expected to formally raise the issue — positioning the trophy dispute not merely as a diplomatic slight but as a governance failure that needs systemic correction. What began as a missing piece of silverware has evolved into a litmus test for how the sport in Asia manages authority, accountability, and respect across borders.
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