The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary, Devajit Saikia, has confirmed that a senior official from the International Cricket Council (ICC) is helping mediate talks between the BCCI and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over the Asia Cup trophy dispute. The issue began after India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, won the Asia Cup 2025 on 28th September, but refused to accept the trophy from PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also heads the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).
Following India’s refusal, Pakistan’s Interior Minister ordered that the trophy be locked inside the ACC headquarters in Dubai and instructed officials not to release it. The disagreement turned into a power tussle between Naqvi and the BCCI, forcing the matter to reach the ICC level for mediation.
Speaking from the sidelines of the ICC meeting in Dubai, Saikia said the discussions with Naqvi went off well and that both sides are working towards a resolution. However, he dismissed speculation that the ICC has formed a committee to deal with the issue. “Although one of the senior ICC officials is involved in the negotiation process, there’s no need for a special committee at this stage. The matter will be resolved soon without taking any drastic steps,” Saikia told news agency PTI on Saturday, 8th November.
As per the media reports, ICC Deputy Chairman Imran Khawaja and CEO Sanjog Gupta have been facilitating the dialogue between the BCCI and PCB. Saikia said he’s optimistic about the outcome. “The ice has now broken, and both sides will try to find a solution as soon as possible. Hopefully, the issue will be sorted out in the coming days,” he said.
The controversy began after India’s victory in the Asia Cup, an eight-team tournament that saw India dominate throughout. At the presentation ceremony, though, the team refused to accept the trophy because Mohsin Naqvi, being the president of the ACC then, wanted to do the honours himself, a move the BCCI resisted due to heightened political tensions between the two countries following the Pahalgam terror attack of 22nd April this year. As a result, the trophy was never presented, and it has remained locked in the ACC office since then.
During the recent ICC meeting in Dubai, Naqvi met with BCCI officials, and the conversation was reportedly positive. The trophy still remains at the ACC headquarters under Naqvi’s instructions not to move it without his consent, but Saikia said there’s now hope that the issue will be resolved soon and the trophy will be handed over to India officially.
