Asia Cup 2025 Shock: BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia Demands Pakistan Return Trophy & Medals – Urgent 24-Hour Ultimatum to PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia issues a strong 24-hour ultimatum to PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi, demanding the immediate return of the Asia Cup 2025 trophy and medals. Tensions rise between India and Pakistan cricket boards
The BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has alleged the Pakistan board and Asian Cricket Council Mohsin Naqvi walked away with the Asia Cup trophy and the individual medals of the champion team after Team India refused to receive the silverware from him at the post-match ceremony. He further added that the BCCI would be registering a protest against Naqvi at the International Cricket Council meeting next month.
“We had decided not to take the trophy from the ACC chairman who happens to be one of the leading leaders of Pakistan. But that does not mean that the gentleman will take away the trophy along with the medals. It is very unfortunate, very unsporting and we hope that the trophy and the medals will be returned to India as soon as possible. We are going to protest against this at the ICC conference in November,” Saikia said after India’s 5 wicket-win over Pakistan in the final, their third against the arch-rivals in this tournament.
The Indian board office-bearer also reacted to the Indian PM Narendra Modi posted on X: “#OperationSindoor on the games field. Outcome is the same – India wins! Congrats to our cricketers”.
“Our armed forces have delivered it in the border area, now the same thing has been repeated in Dubai. So this is an excellent moment, a momentous occasion for Indian cricket … It was Operation Sindoor earlier and now it is Operation Killa. So it is an extremely befitting reply to all the nonsense activities done by some of the hostile country persons. So I don’t think there can be a better reply to this occasion on the grand occasion of the final Dubai match, ” Saikia said.
He also shared BCCI’s long term stand on playing Pakistan. “BCCI has followed the spirit and the policy formulated by the Government of India regarding all games.So when it is a bilateral tournament, India is not going to play against Pakistan or any other hostile country. And the BCCI has been doing it for the last 12 to 15 years. The Government has said that in multinational tournaments, whether it is cricket or football, we have to play. Otherwise, the federation will be banned by international federations. So we followed the policy of the Central Government.”
In a dramatic escalation of cricket diplomacy, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia has formally demanded that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) return the Asia Cup 2025 trophy and medals without delay. The directive, issued to PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, comes amid growing tensions between the two cricketing powerhouses over the conduct and management of the tournament.
According to sources close to the BCCI, Saikia has given the PCB a 24-hour ultimatum to return all awarded materials from the Asia Cup, citing “violation of hosting agreements and unresolved administrative discrepancies.”
“This is a matter of principle and protocol. We expect full cooperation from the PCB and immediate compliance,” said a BCCI spokesperson on condition of anonymity.
The Asia Cup 2025, which was hosted in a hybrid format due to India’s security concerns over playing in Pakistan, has been mired in controversy from the start. While Sri Lanka co-hosted the tournament, several logistical and political issues reportedly strained the relationship between BCCI and PCB.
The latest fallout appears to be centered around the handling of the post-tournament awards and official documentation, which the BCCI claims were either withheld or mishandled by the Pakistan board.
Reports suggest that during a recent ACC (Asian Cricket Council) review meeting, discrepancies were found in the official record of trophies and medals. Allegedly, several items meant to be returned or documented after the tournament were either delayed or unaccounted for, prompting BCCI’s strong reaction.
As of now, the PCB has not issued an official response to the BCCI’s demand. However, insiders suggest that the board is “surprised” by the tone and urgency of the request and is consulting with legal and diplomatic advisors.
This move adds another layer of complexity to the already strained India-Pakistan cricketing relationship, just weeks ahead of their potential clash in upcoming ICC tournaments.
With both boards expected to engage in bilateral discussions at the next ICC meeting, the outcome of this demand could set a precedent for future cross-border tournaments. Fans and analysts alike are watching closely to see how the PCB responds — and whether this could have broader implications for India-Pakistan cricket diplomacy.
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