Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal has called on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to boycott matches against India in upcoming multi-nation events following a controversy at the Asia Cup 2025 trophy presentation. The incident occurred when India’s team refused to accept the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, who serves as both the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) head and PCB chairman, leading to a 45-minute delay in the ceremony after India’s five-wicket victory in the final.The trophy presentation controversy emerged after India’s team maintained their position of not wanting to receive the trophy from Naqvi, who also holds the position of Interior Minister of Pakistan. Throughout the tournament, Naqvi had expressed anti-India sentiments on social media despite his role as ACC head.
Naqvi had previously requested the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft following a no-handshake incident during the India-Pakistan group stage match. The situation has sparked significant reactions within Pakistan’s cricket community.“Pakistan board should immediately say that ‘we should never play against India’. Let’s see what action ICC takes. What else evidence do you need after this? But the BCCI person is leading the ICC – how will he (Jay Shah) take any action? The other boards have to come together, say we can’t see this in cricket. Sport is not played at anyone’s home. If others don’t play them, then no money is going to come,” Akmal stated in his interview with ARY News.Akmal further suggested the formation of a neutral committee to address the tournament’s events: “The earlier these things can be controlled, the better for everybody. A neutral body has to be formed without Pakistan and India, make a committee of Australians, South Africans, and New Zealanders and let them decide on what action to be taken about all that has happened in this tournament.”The tournament was marked by several controversial incidents, including India’s refusal to shake hands with Pakistan players after the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives. The Super 4s match also saw heightened tensions with Pakistani pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf sledging Indian openers, while Sahibzada Farhan performed a gun celebration after scoring his half-century.“This cheap harkatein (behaviour) we shall keep seeing from India. We have seen in this tournament that they have done as much damage to cricket as they could. PCB and ACC president took the right stand – take the trophy or not, it will be given by the president only. India will become the joke of the cricketing world,” Akmal expressed.The controversy has highlighted the ongoing tensions between the two cricket boards and raised questions about the future of India-Pakistan cricket relations in international tournaments. The incident has garnered attention from the cricket community worldwide and may impact future cricket diplomatic relations between the two nations.The situation represents another chapter in the complex relationship between Indian and Pakistani cricket, with both sides maintaining their respective positions regarding the trophy presentation incident. The matter has now become a topic of discussion among cricket administrators and former players from both countries.
About the Author
