Lahore: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has categorically denied reports by Indian media claiming that he apologized to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over the trophy handover controversy at Sunday’s Asia Cup final.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the closing ceremony of the men’s Asia Cup descended into farce on Sunday as the Indian cricket team refused to collect the winners’ trophy from the ACC chief, marking a historic low in cricketing relations between the two countries. Subsequently, Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav complained his side was denied the trophy after winning the Asia Cup.
Later, Indian media alleged that Naqvi had himself refused to hand the trophy over to the Indian team.
Today, several Indian outlets reported that Naqvi had now apologised to the BCCI, but that he still refused to hand them the trophy.
Responding to the Indian media on platform X, Naqvi stated, “Indian media thrives on lies, not facts. Let me make it absolutely clear: I have done nothing wrong and I have never apologised to the BCCI nor will I ever do so.” He called the claims “fabricated nonsense” and “cheap propaganda”, saying it was aimed at misleading Indian people.
The PCB chairman slammed India for continuing to “drag politics into cricket, damaging the very spirit of the game”.
“As ACC chairman, I was ready to hand over the trophy that very day and I am still ready now,” he said. “If they truly want it, they are welcome to come to the ACC office and collect it from me.”
