ACC president Mohsin Naqvi to skip India vs Pakistan Asian Games 2026 men's cricket final: Here's why

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 due to prior commitments.

Naqvi's absence comes after India and Pakistan secured their places in the summit clash. His potential presence had attracted attention because of the recent tensions surrounding trophy presentations at the Asia Cup. The situation has remained sensitive since Indian teams did not accept trophies from Naqvi during the 2025 men's Asia Cup and the 2026 women's Asia Cup.

Naqvi's decision to stay away also comes amid an ongoing disagreement between him and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over trophy presentations involving Indian teams. The ACC confirmed his absence from Finals Day through a post on X, ending speculation about whether he would be present at the India vs Pakistan final.

Why is Mohsin Naqvi skipping the India vs Pakistan Asian Games Final?

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi will miss the India vs Pakistan men's cricket gold medal match at the Asian Games 2026 in Japan due to prior commitments. Naqvi, who is also Pakistan's Interior Minister, sent his best wishes to the teams competing for medals in Nagoya.

Naqvi said that his commitments would keep him away from Nagoya, but he would still be following the matches. He said, “Wishing all the participants the very best ahead of gold and bronze medal matches at the Asian Games 2026. Commitments will keep me away from Nagoya. But I will be looking forward to some thrilling action.”

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India will face Pakistan for the men's cricket gold medal at Korogi Park in Nisshin City on Saturday. Naqvi's absence means he will not be part of the official medal presentation ceremony. His decision to skip the final also comes after concerns over whether his presence could lead to a repeat of the tense scenes seen during the recent men's and women's Asia Cup tournaments.

What the ACC said: Naqvi to miss finals day at Korogi Sports Park

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) confirmed that its president, Mohsin Naqvi, will miss Finals Day at the Asian Games 2026 due to prior commitments. The ACC shared a statement on social media, saying, “ACC President, Mr Mohsin Naqvi, will miss Finals Day at #AsianGames2026 due to prior commitments, but sends his very best wishes to all four teams ahead of the Gold and Bronze Medal Matches.”

Naqvi, who is also Pakistan's Interior Minister, also sent his best wishes to the teams competing for medals in Nagoya. He said, “Wishing all the participants the very best ahead of gold and bronze medal matches at the Asian Games 2026. Commitments will keep me away from Nagoya. But I will be looking forward to some thrilling action.”

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Shreyas Iyer and his team will face Pakistan for the men's cricket gold medal at Korogi Park in Nisshin City tomorrow. Naqvi's absence means he will not be involved in the official presentation ceremony if either team wins the gold medal. His decision to skip Finals Day also comes amid the ongoing disagreement between the ACC and the BCCI over trophy presentations involving Indian teams.

Asia Cup Trophy row background and what it means for the medal ceremony 

The stand-off between the BCCI and the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) began after Indian teams did not accept their Asia Cup trophies from Mohsin Naqvi during the 2025 men's tournament and the 2026 women's edition. The BCCI had asked the ACC to allow Naqvi's deputy to present the trophy, but the request was not accepted. Naqvi has maintained that if India wants the Asia Cup trophies, they will have to collect them from him.

The situation raised questions about what would happen if India and Pakistan met in the Asian Games final, especially with Naqvi serving as the head of the ACC. The Indian men's and women's teams also expressed their support for the Indian defence forces during the Asia Cup tournaments following the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025 and the subsequent Operation Sindoor.

With Naqvi not travelling to Nagoya for Finals Day, the issue is unlikely to affect the Asian Games medal ceremony in the same way. The Olympic Council of Asia, local organisers and the Indian Olympic Association will oversee the medal ceremony after the India vs Pakistan men's cricket final.