Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Asia Cricket Council (ACC) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Wednesday refuted claims by Indian media that he had apologised to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over the trophy handover issue at Sunday's Asia Cup final.

The closing ceremony of the men's Asia Cup descended into farce on Sunday as the Indian cricket team refused to collect the winners' trophy from the ACC chief, marking a historic low in cricketing relations between the two countries.

Subsequently, Indian skipper Surya­ku­mar Yadav complained his side were denied the trophy after winning the Asia Cup.

Later, Indian media alleged that Naqvi had himself refused to hand the trophy over to the Indian team.

Today, several Indian outlets, including IndiaToday, Financial Express and Hindustan Times, reported that Naqvi had now apologised to the BCCI, but that he still refused to hand them the trophy.

Responding to an India Today post about their report on social media platform X, Naqvi stated,“Indian media thrives on lies, not facts. Let me make it absolutely clear: I have done nothing wrong and I have never apologised to the BCCI nor will I ever do so.”

The PCB chairman slammed India for continuing to“drag politics into cricket, damaging the very spirit of the game”.

“As ACC chairman, I was ready to hand over the trophy that very day and I am still ready now,” he said.“If they truly want it, they are welcome to come to the ACC office and collect it from me.”

ma

MENAFN01102025000174011037ID1110138004