The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is facing an unprecedented leadership crisis as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly preparing to table a no-confidence motion against ACC President Mohsin Naqvi, creating deep political fissures within the continental cricket body.
The intense disagreement stems from India’s refusal to accept the Asia Cup trophy from Naqvi following their championship victory in Dubai. The Indian team left the silverware at the ACC headquarters, an act that has since spiraled into a major diplomatic incident in the cricketing world.
Sources indicate the council is now fractured into opposing blocs. Bangladesh has seemingly aligned with Pakistan, while Sri Lanka is backing India’s position. Afghanistan’s allegiance remains fluid, with the nation reportedly shifting its support between the two camps.
The situation was further inflamed by Indian media reports claiming Naqvi had apologized to the BCCI over the affair. Naqvi, who is also Pakistan’s Interior Minister, vehemently refuted these assertions, labeling them as ‘fabricated nonsense’ and ‘cheap propaganda.’
In a defiant statement, the PCB chief dismissed the allegations. ‘I have done nothing wrong. I neither apologized nor will I,’ he declared. ‘If India really wants the trophy, their captain can collect it directly from my office.’
The BCCI is building its case for Naqvi’s removal on the grounds of a conflict of interest, citing his dual roles as Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board and a senior minister in the Pakistani government.
However, the path to Naqvi’s ouster is complicated by a significant procedural hurdle. Insiders have noted that the ACC’s constitution currently lacks a formal, documented framework for initiating a no-confidence motion against its president.
What was intended as a celebration of cricketing excellence has now become a flashpoint for regional tensions. With the Asia Cup trophy still unclaimed and member nations divided, the future governance of Asian cricket hangs in the balance.