Archive · 2 Oct 2026
Naqvi to miss India-Pakistan Asian Games final amid trophy row
Mohsin Naqvi is an important cricket official from Pakistan.
He will not attend the Asian Games cricket final between India and Pakistan.
The match will be played in Japan on Saturday.
India and Pakistan reached the final after winning their semifinal matches.
Rain helped both teams advance comfortably.
India has brought many of its strongest T20 players, including Jasprit Bumrah.
Pakistan has a younger team led by Sahibzada Farhan.
The match could be closely affected by spin bowling and the pitch conditions.
There has also been a disagreement because Indian teams did not accept Asia Cup trophies from Naqvi.
His absence means the organisers may avoid a difficult trophy presentation.
Asian Cricket Council president Mohsin Naqvi will miss Saturday’s India-Pakistan gold-medal match in Japan, citing prior commitments.
The final will be played at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, with India and Pakistan reaching the match after rain-affected semifinals.
The standoff follows Indian teams declining to accept Asia Cup trophies from Naqvi during the 2025 men’s and 2026 women’s tournaments.
India has selected a strong T20 squad including Jasprit Bumrah, while Pakistan will rely on captain Sahibzada Farhan and several young players.
Naqvi’s absence may help organisers avoid a potentially contentious trophy and medal presentation ceremony.
- Who
- Asian Cricket Council president Mohsin Naqvi, and the India and Pakistan men’s cricket teams.
- What
- Naqvi will miss the Asian Games men’s cricket final, while India and Pakistan compete for the gold medal.
- When
- The final is scheduled for Saturday at 10:00 a.m. IST during the Asian Games 2026.
- Where
- Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan.
- Why
- The Asian Cricket Council said Naqvi has prior commitments; his absence also avoids a potentially contentious presentation linked to the Asia Cup trophy dispute.
India and BCCI position
Naqvi and ACC position
Asia Cup trophy presentation
India and BCCI position
The BCCI has maintained that Indian teams will not receive trophies from Mohsin Naqvi and had reportedly asked the ACC to let his deputy conduct the presentation.
Naqvi and ACC position
Naqvi refused the reported request and has insisted that India’s teams must collect the Asia Cup trophies from him.
Final-day ceremony
India and BCCI position
Naqvi’s absence removes the possibility of Indian players having to receive medals or a trophy from him at the Asian Games final.
Naqvi and ACC position
The ACC said Naqvi will miss Finals Day because of prior commitments and sent best wishes to the participating teams.
Match expectations
India and BCCI position
India has sent a first-choice team and is expected to seek gold, with a defeat to Pakistan described as a major embarrassment.
Naqvi and ACC position
Pakistan’s young team, including players with Pakistan Super League experience, could narrow the gap through its spinners and favorable pitch conditions.
- Match
- India vs Pakistan men’s cricket gold-medal final
- Venue
- Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin
- Start time
- 10:00 a.m. IST
- Naqvi’s roles
- Asian Cricket Council president, Pakistan Cricket Board chairman and Pakistan interior minister
- India captain
- Shreyas Iyer
- Pakistan captain
- Sahibzada Farhan
- Key India player
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Reported dispute
- Indian teams declined to accept Asia Cup trophies from Naqvi during the 2025 men’s and 2026 women’s editions