This was second time in Asia Cup when victor Indian teams refused trophy from Mohsin Naqvi's hands.
Mohsin Naqvi’s dual role as a cricket administrator and Pakistan interior minister has been questioned by former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif. This came after Mohsin Naqvi suffered yet another embarrassment as the India Women’s team refused to take the Asia Cup 2026 trophy from him on September 13, after defeating Sri Lanka in the final in Dubai.
The Women's Asia Cup was won by India, who easily defeated Sri Lanka by 72 runs. However, the post-match presentation was postponed because the winners refused to accept the trophy from Naqvi.
India's stance remained unchanged despite the presence of Pakistan's Interior Minister and chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Mohsin Naqvi, at the ceremony.
As a result, Naqvi had to wait for the situation to calm down and the Indian women's team to emerge. However, the Women in Blue persisted in their determination, and he departed the location without presenting the trophy.
Former India batter Mohammad Kaif has now questioned if Naqvi can actually carry out his cricket duties while holding such a prominent political role in Pakistan.
“Are they living in the past? Don't they have a reality check? Mohsin Naqvi is in politics. He is the boss of the board. It's not like that. If you are in cricket, then you have to be in cricket. You have to go to two places. It's a difficult job. You won't be able to give time.
You have so many political commitments. You have to run the cricket board. You have to see what's going on inside. You have to stop at one place and invest time. If you look at anybody, if you compare it with the BCCI, or if you look at it from the outside, nobody does two things,” Kaif said on Cricbuzz.
Naqvi's dual role as the PCB chief and Pakistan minister had made him a central figure whenever India and Pakistan cricketing ties were discussed.
Kaif questioned if someone with significant obligations elsewhere could dedicate enough time to the job and contended that managing a cricket board itself needed persistent attention.
“Either you are a politician, or you are a cricketer. You have to balance it. You have to focus on one thing,” Kaif said.
He also drew attention to Pakistan cricket and its downfall and stated that it can’t be attributed to a shortage of quality players. Pakistan, according to Kaif, continues to develop a lot of natural talent. What is required is a more robust system and individuals capable of developing those players once they enter the professional ranks.
“Players aren't bad. You need people who make players. There is a lot of talent in Pakistan,” he added.
With victorious Indian teams refusing to take the Asia Cup trophies from Mohsin Naqvi in successive tournaments, controversies around the PCB chief’s position in cricket administration are unlikely to disappear with the end of the tournament.