Asian Cricket Council Chief to Skip India-Pakistan Gold Medal Clash

Asian Cricket Council President Mohsin Naqvi will not travel to Japan on Saturday to attend the Asian Games gold medal match between India and Pakistan in Nisshin. An official ACC statement confirmed that Naqvi will miss Finals Day at Aichi-Nagoya 2026 due to other commitments while sending best wishes to all competing teams.

Match Lineup

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will face each other in the bronze medal match earlier in the day. The gold medal match features the arch-rivals India and Pakistan.

Past Tensions

In recent Asian Cricket Council tournaments, Indian teams have refused to accept trophies from Naqvi after winning finals. During the Women's Asia Cup in September, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led Indian team did not join the presentation ceremony. India head coach Amol Muzumdar stated that the team fully supports the BCCI decision and considers the tournament finished once they claim the title. A source previously revealed that the BCCI had informed ACC officials beforehand about the trophy refusal plan if India won. The Indian men's team similarly declined to receive their trophy from Naqvi after beating Pakistan at the same venue in September 2025, delaying the post-match ceremony by over an hour.

Board Relations

Naqvi also serves as the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board. Relations between the Pakistan Cricket Board and the Board of Control for Cricket in India have grown tense following the Pahlagam attacks.

Context

Cricket fixtures between India and Pakistan regularly draw immense global attention and high stakes both on and off the field. Administrative disagreements between the cricket boards of both nations often impact official ceremonies and bilateral tournament protocols.