BCCI Official Says PCB Chief And Asia Cup Dispute Almost Clear

BCCI secretary expressed hope for a resolution after a meeting with the PCB chairman at the ICC meeting and with ACC chief.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has stated that the “ice has been broken” with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). He is hopeful of a resolution regarding the Asia Cup trophy dispute. This follows a meeting with PCB and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chairman Mohsin Naqvi.

The meeting took place during a recent ICC meeting in Dubai. Saikia confirmed his participation in both informal and formal discussions.

“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.

He described the encounter as a positive start. “It was really good to start the process of negotiation,” Saikia said.

He indicated that both boards will now explore solutions. “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,” he added.

Background of the Dispute

The dispute began after India won the Asia Cup, beating Pakistan in the final on September 28. The Indian team has not yet received the physical trophy. A standoff occurred at the presentation ceremony.

India refused to accept the trophy from Naqvi. Naqvi is the ACC and PCB chair who also serves as Pakistan’s Interior Minister. This refusal followed cross-border skirmishes between the two countries. The tensions were linked to a terror attack in Pahalgam in April.

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The entire tournament was marked by tension. India and Pakistan played each other three times. Their first meeting on September 14 saw Indian players decide not to shake hands with the Pakistan team. The matches were ill-tempered.

Players including Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Haris Rauf, and Sahibzada Farhan received ICC penalties for their comments or on-field actions.

After the final, the presentation ceremony was delayed by over 90 minutes. Reports indicated Naqvi remained insistent on handing the trophy to India. The Indian side did not change its stance. Eventually, the trophy was taken away from the stage and has not been received by the team to date.

Last Updated on November 9, 2025