Asia Cup trophy "locked up": 'Do not move or hand over to India,' instructs Pakistani Minister Mohsin Naqvi

DUBAI: Despite defeating Pakistan in the Asia Cup final and becoming champions, the Indian team has not yet been handed over the trophy. While the controversy over the issue is still raging, reports are coming out that the Asia Cup trophy that was supposed to be handed over to India is "locked up". The trophy is still at the Asian Cricket Council headquarters in Dubai. It is reported that Pakistani Minister and Chairman of the Asian Cricket Council Mohsin Naqvi has given strict instructions not to hand over the trophy or move it from there.

India, which won the title, had announced that it would not accept the trophy from the Pakistani minister. However, Mohsin Naqvi had earlier responded that he had no hesitation in handing over the trophy to India, but as the ACC president, the trophy should be received from him and the Indian team can come and receive the trophy any time.

"Naqvi has given clear instructions that only he will hand over the trophy in person (whenever that happens) to the Indian team or BCCI," some news agencies reported. India took a stand that it would not receive the trophy from the Pakistani minister amid ongoing strained relations with Pakistan. Instead, they had requested that the vice-chairman of the Emirates Cricket Board hand over the trophy. However, Naqvi rejected this request and insisted that the Indian team receive the trophy from his own hands.