The upcoming ICC meeting in Dubai on Tuesday is expected to address the growing controversy surrounding the Asia Cup trophy, which remains a point of tension between India and the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).
Typically, ICC meetings focus on cricketing policies, tournaments, or financial structures. However, this time the discussion may be dominated by the unresolved issue of the Asia Cup trophy, which has yet to reach India despite their victory over Pakistan more than a month ago.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia expressed hope that the trophy would arrive at the board’s Mumbai headquarters before the meeting. He confirmed that the BCCI had officially written to the ACC president but had not yet received a response. “Yes, we are somewhat dissatisfied that even after more than a month, the trophy has not reached us,” Saikia said. “We sent a letter to the ACC president, but there has been no reply. They still have the trophy, although we hope it will reach Mumbai in the coming days.”
Saikia further added, “The BCCI is prepared to raise the matter strongly during the meeting. We assure the Indian public that the trophy belongs to India and will return. The only uncertainty is the timing.”
The Asia Cup was marred by tensions reflecting the strained India-Pakistan relationship. From players refusing handshakes and boycotting press conferences to disputes during the award ceremony, signs of discord were visible throughout the tournament.
India defeated Pakistan in the final to win the title, but the team declined to accept the trophy from ACC president and Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. As a result, the trophy was removed from the stage, triggering a series of exchanges between the two cricket boards. The issue has now escalated to the ICC level, where it is set to be discussed formally next week.
