Mohsin Naqvi’s Humiliating Admission At ACC Meeting: ‘Felt Like A Cartoon’ | Cricket News

Mohsin Naqvi waiting for the Indian team in Dubai.

(AP Photo)

Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi reportedly admitted on Tuesday that he ‘felt like a cartoon’ and ’embarrassed’ while waiting for the Indian team at the dais of the Dubai International Cricket Stadium after the final of the 2025 Asia Cup. According to the news agency PTI, which quoted a source in the ACC, Naqvi made the admission during the organization’s meeting in Dubai on Tuesday.

After edging Pakistan in a tense last-over finish, India created shockwaves by refusing to accept the Asia Cup trophy and medals. The team stood firm in its protest, objecting to Naqvi presenting the awards, given the politician’s history of hostile anti-India remarks and ridicule of Indian sentiment.

Naqvi, who holds dual roles as ACC president and Pakistan Cricket Board chief, refused to step aside. Even when India, backed strongly by the BCCI, proposed neutral figures like Khalid Al Zarooni of the Emirates Cricket Board or Bangladesh’s Aminul Islam, Naqvi dismissed the suggestions outright.

The confrontation led to an hour-long stand-off, which ended in extraordinary scenes as Naqvi walked off the stadium with ACC officials following him with the trophy in hand. Unfazed, Indian players broke into improvised celebrations, lifting imaginary cups.

As reported by CNN-News18 earlier, the BCCI. represented by Rajeev Shukla and Ashish Shelar, expressed its strong objections over Naqvi’s ‘attitude’ at the meeting. The board believes that Naqvi took the trophy to his hotel in Dubai and asked him to submit it back to the ACC headquarters in Delhi.

But the Pakistani interior minister didn’t relent, insisting that the topic wasn’t to be discussed in the Annual General Meeting of the organisation and suggested addressing it at another time. The meeting’s primary agenda was to elect a vice chairman, but even that decision was postponed.

CNN-News18 had also reported that Naqvi didn’t congratulate India for the win in the Asia Cup. During the meeting, Naqvi’s brief opening remarks congratulated Nepal for its victory against the West Indies and Mongolia for joining the ACC, but omitted mention of India’s win. This prompted Shelar to question why India wasn’t congratulated, leading Naqvi to begrudgingly offer congratulations.

First Published:

September 30, 2025, 20:12 IST