**Mumbai:** The BCCI will lodge a “very strong protest” at the next ICC meeting in November against Asian Cricket Council chief Mohsin Naqvi. This follows the controversial incident in Dubai where Naqvi walked away with the Asia Cup trophy after the Indian team refused to accept it from him.
### BCCI Secretary Justifies Team’s Refusal
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia explained the team’s decision, stating that India cannot accept the trophy from a person who is “waging a war against the country.” India secured a five-wicket victory over Pakistan in the final on Sunday, with Tilak Varma scoring an unbeaten 69 and earning the Player of the Match title.
“So far as the trophy is concerned, trophy distribution, India cannot take the trophy from the person who is waging a war against our country,” Saikia said. He added, “We have taken a decision not to accept the trophy, but that does not allow the gentleman to take away the trophy and the medals to his hotel.”
Calling the incident “unexpected” and “very childish,” Saikia announced, “We will launch a very strong protest with ICC in the forthcoming ICC meeting to be held in Dubai in the first week of November.”
### Background on Mohsin Naqvi
Mohsin Naqvi is not only the head of the Asian Cricket Council but also serves as the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board and the Interior Minister of Pakistan.
### Praising the Indian Team’s Performance
Saikia praised the Indian team for their impressive unbeaten run throughout the Asia Cup. “India won all the seven matches at the group stage, won all the three matches thereafter in the group of four, and finally also succeeded,” he said.
He highlighted the team’s dominance over Pakistan, stating, “Out of these seven matches, India won against Pakistan 3-0. So this is a big victory and a big-time cricket achievement for the country.”
### On Playing Despite Criticism
Addressing concerns over India’s participation in the tournament amid criticism of engaging with Pakistan—especially in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack—Saikia emphasized that the BCCI followed the policy set by the Indian government.
He explained, “When it is a bilateral tournament, India is not going to play against Pakistan or any other hostile country, and BCCI has been doing it for the last 12 to 15 years.”
He continued, “Now the government has said that in multinational tournaments — Asia Cup is a multinational tournament — or an international tournament where a lot of other countries are also involved, in those tournaments the Indian team, whether it is cricket or football, has to play.”
“Otherwise, our other games will suffer or the federation will be banned by international federations, so we followed the policy of the central government. We participated in spite of the fact that there are some protests or some resistance from some quarters,” Saikia added.
### Bringing Joy to the Nation
Saikia expressed hope that India’s clean sweep against Pakistan in the Asia Cup would bring happiness to the people. “Today, with this handsome win over Pakistan and the thumping victory of 3-0, I am sure we will bring a lot of happiness to our people. The country is really proud of the performance of the Indian cricket team,” he concluded.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/sports/will-strongly-protest-with-icc-bcci-on-indian-team-being-denied-asia-cup-trophy-by-asian-cricket-council-chief-mohsin-naqvi
