Asia Cup 2025 Final: Pakistan Cricket Board chief to present trophy; What will India do?

India and Pakistan are getting ready for the Asia Cup 2025 Final, which will be played on Sunday (September 28) in Dubai. While the India vs Pakistan match is now very different than previous times, the tension is rising, especially after the news that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi will hand over the trophy to the tournament-winning captain on Sunday.  

Actually the PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi is also the President of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). So, it was very much expected that he would present the trophy to the winning captain, maintaining the tournament culture. On the other hand, the relationships between Indian and Pakistani cricketers are now very different. While India have decided not to shake hands with Pakistani cricketers in protest of the 2025 Pahalgam attack, in their last meeting, at the Super Fours of the Asia Cup 2025, a few Pakistani cricketers' on-field actions were controversially provocative. 

Even Mohsin Naqvi entered the controversy with his recent social media post of Cristiano Ronaldo's celebration, which was similar to Pakistan cricketer Haris Rauf's provocative on-field action "plane crash", for which the Pakistan cricketer has been fined. On the other hand, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav has been fined for his post-match comments after their first meeting in the Asia Cup 2025 in the group stage (Group A).

See Also: Hardik Pandya to miss India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 Final? Morne Morkel's comment raises tension

Let's see what the BCCI decides

While it is clear now that the PCB chief will present the trophy, it will be interesting to see what the reaction of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). 

A tournament insider told PTI, "As of now, information is that he will come this evening and obviously, as ACC chairman, he will be giving away the winner's trophy. Let's see what the BCCI decides."

PCB Chief wasn't present during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Final

A similar situation happened during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Final, which was held last March in Dubai, and India won that title. As Pakistan was the original host of that tournament, the PCB chief was expected to present the trophy. But in the absence of the PCB chief, ICC Chairman Jay Shah presented that trophy. Although the PCB chief operating officer Sumair Ahmed was present on the ground, who was also the tournament director, he couldn't join the podium reportedly due to the rules of the ICC tournament.