BCCI Secretary hopeful of Asia Cup Trophy resolution after ICC meeting, says that ‘Ice has been broken now’.
‘Ice has been broken now’ – BCCI secretary hopeful of Asia Cup trophy resolution with Naqvi.
After the “ice has been broken” between the two boards during the most recent ICC conference in Dubai, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia feels optimistic about a resolution with PCB and Asian Cricket Concil (ACC) chairman Mohsin Naqvi regarding the Asia Cup trophy dispute.
“I was a part of both the informal and formal meeting of the ICC. PCB chairperson Mohsin Naqvi was also present. During the course of a formal meeting, it was not on agenda but ICC facilitated a meeting between myself and the PCB chief separately in the presence of a senior ICC office-bearer and another senior official,” Saikia told PTI. “It was really good to start the process of negotiation.
“Both sides will work out something to solve the issue at the earliest. The ice has been broken now, so various options will be worked out. There will be options from the other side as well and we will also give options on how to settle this issue and come to an amicable solution.”
Despite defeating Pakistan in the Asia Cup final on September 28, India is yet to get the trophy. Following the cross-border altercation between the two nations following the terror attack in Pahalgam in April, there was a standoff at the presentation ceremony as India refused to receive the trophy from Naqvi, the chair of the ACC and PCB and the interior minister of Pakistan.
During the Asia Cup, India and Pakistan faced off three times: in the group stage, the Super Fours, and the final. Each match was tense, starting on September 14 when India refused to shake hands with the Pakistani players. Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Haris Rauf, and Sahibzada Farhan all received varying-severity punishments from the ICC for their remarks or on-field actions during the tense matches.
The presentation ceremony was postponed for over ninety minutes following the final because Naqvi insisted on being the one to give the trophy to India, who refused to change their mind.