Pakistan set to honour Mohsin Naqvi for Asia Cup trophy controversy with India

Asia Cup trophy controversy: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the country's Home Minister, will be awarded the Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Excellence Gold Medal for his "principled and courageous stance" during the recent Asia Cup final trophy handover controversy.

Advocate Ghulam Abbas Jamal, president of the Sindh and Karachi Basketball Association, told the Independent newspaper that Naqvi's actions "restored national pride" at a time when political and sporting relations with India were strained. 

A political insult

Naqvi made international headlines during the Asia Cup final post-match ceremony when Indian players refused to accept the trophy from him. This was widely seen as a political insult. In response, Naqvi kept the trophy and later wrote on social media that the Indian team "can collect it from the ACC headquarters if they really want to."

Naqvi wrote on X (formerly Twitter), "I did nothing wrong, and I have not apologized to the BCCI and will not apologize." His stance was praised by the political and sports communities in Pakistan. The decision to honor him is being seen as both a symbolic move and a clear message.

Ceremony to be held in Karachi

According to reports, a formal awards ceremony will be held in Karachi, with PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari invited as the chief guest. Organizers said the date will be decided after Bhutto's availability is confirmed.

A special committee has been formed to oversee the ceremony, chaired by Sindh Basketball Association President Khalid Jameel Shami. Karachi Commissioner and Director of Sports Ghulam Muhammad Khan has been appointed secretary. Ghulam Abbas Jamal said, "This is not just about cricket. It's about dignity, sovereignty, and refusing to bow to pressure."

Asia Cup Trophy Controversy & Diplomatic Repercussions

The Asia Cup was surrounded by political contexts, in which India implemented the "No Handshake" protocol with Pakistani players. During the final, the controversy reached its peak when India refused to take the trophy from Naqvi despite winning the match.

BCCI has taken up the matter at the ACC annual meeting and is likely to extend it in the next ICC session. The development took place in the deteriorating atmosphere of bilateral relations. Recently, Pakistan-based terrorists killed 26 Indian tourists in the Pahalgam terrorist attack. In response, India took military action on terrorist camps located across the border under "Operation Sindoor."