In a strange twist to the ongoing Asia Cup trophy saga, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi has finally admitted what everyone already knew: the championship trophy belongs to India. This statement, however, comes with a catch, doing little to resolve the bizarre standoff that has captivated the cricket world.The whole controversy started after India’s victory over Pakistan in the Asia Cup final.In a move fueled by political tensions, the Indian team made a conscious decision to not accept the trophy from Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan's Interior Minister.What should have been a simple moment of celebration turned into a diplomatic mess. Instead of allowing another official to present the silverware, an angered Naqvi ordered the trophy to be removed from the stage and took it with him. The cup, which should be in India's trophy cabinet, is currently being held at the ACC headquarters in DubaiNaturally, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was not pleased. They labeled the act "unsportsmanlike" and have since sent official warnings to Naqvi, demanding the return of the trophy. The BCCI has made it clear that if the issue isn't resolved, they are prepared to escalate the matter to the International Cricket Council (ICC)Despite the pressure, Naqvi has refused to simply send the trophy to India. While acknowledging India as the rightful owner, he has insisted that the Indian captain or a BCCI official must come to Dubai to collect it from him personally in a formal ceremony. This is a condition the BCCI has flatly rejected, arguing that there's no reason for the winning captain to travel to another country to collect a trophy he should have received on the night of the final.In his latest statement, Naqvi said the trophy "is being held in trust" until an Indian official and player can come to collect it. While the words confirm India's ownership, his actions continue to prolong a dispute that has cast a shadow over a hard-fought tournament victory. The cricket world is now watching to see if this strange deadlock will be broken or if it will require the ICC to step in and mediate.
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