Jay Shah to present medals as Naqvi stays away from Asian Games Final

ICC Chairman Jay Shah will be present at the India-Pakistan Asian Game 2026 men’s cricket final in Nisshin, Japan, and is expected to present the medals after the match. He will be joined by Nisshin City Mayor Hiroki Kondo and Nilo Jayatolake, a member of the Olympic Council of Asia Executive Board.

Mohsin Naqvi, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, will not attend the final or the medal ceremony. The ACC said Naqvi will miss Finals Day due to prior commitments and sent his best wishes to the four teams involved in the gold and bronze medal matches.

India and Pakistan are currently battling it out for the gold medal at Korogi Sports Park. Naqvi’s absence comes after recent trophy-presentation episodes involving Indian teams at Asia Cup events, adding extra attention to the officials present at the Asian Games final.

Why Jay Shah, not Mohsin Naqvi, will hand over the medals after the India-Pakistan final

According to a report by RevSportz, ICC President Jay Shah is among the officials listed for the cricket medal presentation after the India-Pakistan Asian Games 2026 final. Nisshin City Mayor Hiroki Kondo and Nilo Jayatolake, an Olympic Council of Asia Executive Board Member and Vice President of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka, are also listed for the ceremony.

Mohsin Naqvi’s absence has attracted attention because of his role as ACC president and the recent trophy presentation episodes involving Indian teams. The Indian men’s team did not accept the Asia Cup trophy from Naqvi after winning the 2025 final against Pakistan, while the Indian women’s team also did not receive the trophy from him after winning the 2026 Women’s Asia Cup.

Naqvi is missing the Asian Games final because of prior commitments, meaning he will not be on the podium when the India-Pakistan match ends. Shah, meanwhile, will attend the medal ceremony in his capacity as ICC President, alongside Japanese and Sri Lankan officials, rather than as a representative of the Indian team.

What we know about the medal ceremony and Naqvi's absence

Mohsin Naqvi, president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), will not attend the men's cricket gold medal match between India and Pakistan at the Asian Games 2026. The ACC confirmed on Friday that Naqvi will miss the final in Japan because of prior commitments. His absence ends the speculation over whether he would be present for the medal ceremony.

Naqvi's absence comes after recent tensions over trophy presentations involving Indian teams. India did not accept the trophy from Naqvi during the 2025 men's Asia Cup and the 2026 women's Asia Cup. His presence at the Asian Games final had therefore attracted attention, especially with India and Pakistan set to face each other for the gold medal.

Naqvi has remained at the centre of the trophy presentation controversy because of his roles in both cricket administration and the Pakistan government. However, with him not attending the final, the focus will now remain on the players and the medal ceremony. The ACC has also confirmed the officials who will be involved in the presentation, removing uncertainty over Naqvi's role on Finals Day.

How fans and officials are reacting to the ceremony arrangement

The medal ceremony arrangements have attracted attention ahead of the India vs Pakistan men's T20 gold medal match at the Asian Games 2026. The two teams will meet in the final at 10:00 AM IST on Saturday, October 3, at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin. The ceremony will take place after the final, depending on the result.

Fans are also keeping a close eye on the ceremony because of the recent discussions around trophy presentations involving Mohsin Naqvi. With Naqvi confirmed to be absent from the final, the focus has shifted towards the other officials who are expected to take part in the medal presentation. Here is how the fans reacted on X:

The final itself remains the main focus for both teams and their supporters. India and Pakistan will compete for the men's T20 gold medal, while the medal ceremony will follow once the match is completed. Fans are now waiting to see how the presentation unfolds after what is expected to be a closely watched final.