Mohsin Naqvi to receive Pakistan’s national award for defying India in Asia Cup 2025 trophy ceremony

Synopsis

Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi will receive an excellence award for his firm stance during the Asia Cup trophy controversy. India's team refused to accept the trophy from him, a move Naqvi deemed political, leading him to retain it and refuse apology. This act is celebrated in Pakistan as restoring national pride amid heightened India-Pakistan tensions.

Mohsin Naqvi, Pakistan’s Interior Minister, chief of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), and President of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), is reportedly set to be honoured with the Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Excellence Gold Medal. Organisers say the award recognises his “principled and courageous stance” during the trophy handover controversy at the recent Asia Cup final, reports The Independent.

Advocate Ghulam Abbas Jamal, President of the Sindh and Karachi Basketball Associations, highlighted that Naqvi’s actions had “restored national pride” amid political and sporting tensions between India and Pakistan.

Trophy Controversy During Asia Cup Final 2025

Naqvi gained global attention when the Indian cricket team refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy from him following the final, a move widely interpreted as a political gesture. In response, Naqvi retained the trophy, later stating on social media that the Indian team was “welcome” to collect it from the ACC headquarters if they wished.

“I did nothing wrong, and I did not, and will not, apologise to the BCCI,” Naqvi posted on X (formerly Twitter), after reports suggested that India’s Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) had taken offence at his actions.

Widespread Support in Pakistan

The decision to honour Naqvi has been welcomed across Pakistan’s political and sports circles. Organisers describe the award as both a symbolic gesture of respect and a statement of national pride.

Live Events

Plans for a formal ceremony in Karachi are underway, with PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari invited as the chief guest. The date is yet to be confirmed, pending his availability. A special committee, chaired by Sindh Basketball Association head Khalid Jameel Shamsi and with Ghulam Muhammad Khan as secretary, will oversee the event.

“This is not just about cricket,” said Ghulam Abbas Jamal. “It is about dignity, sovereignty, and the refusal to bow under pressure.”

Political Tensions and Sporting Diplomacy

The Asia Cup final itself was overshadowed by political tensions. India enforced a strict “no handshake” protocol with Pakistani players, even as they won the match. The refusal to accept the trophy from Naqvi sparked diplomatic and media attention, prompting the BCCI to raise the issue at the ACC’s annual meeting. The matter is expected to be discussed further at the International Cricket Council (ICC) session in November.

Broader Context of India-Pakistan Relations

This sporting incident comes amid heightened bilateral tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 Indian tourists and was attributed to militants based in Pakistan. In response, India conducted military strikes under “Operation Sindoor,” targeting alleged militant camps across the border.

Inputs from TOI

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