India’s Women’s Asia Cup triumph in Dubai was overshadowed by another awkward trophy presentation involving Asian Cricket Council president Mohsin Naqvi, as the champions once again declined to collect the silverware from the Pakistan Cricket Board chief.India defeated Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final on Sunday to claim the title, but the post-match ceremony was held up amid the standoff. Naqvi, who is also Pakistan‘s Interior Minister, remained at the venue, but India’s players were unwilling to receive the trophy from him.The episode was strikingly similar to last year’s men’s Asia Cup final, when India’s victorious team had also refused to accept the trophy from Naqvi. The repeat has once again put the spotlight on his dual role as a senior cricket administrator and a prominent figure in Pakistan’s government.
Mohammad Kaif questions Naqvi’s dual responsibilities
Former India batter Mohammad Kaif has questioned whether Naqvi can give sufficient attention to cricket administration while simultaneously handling major political responsibilities.“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,” Kaif said on Cricbuzz.“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 any body, if you compare it with the BCCI, or look at it from the outside, nobody does two things.”Naqvi’s responsibilities extend beyond the PCB. As ACC president, PCB chairman and Pakistan’s Interior Minister, he occupies influential positions across both cricket and government, making his involvement in major India-Pakistan cricket events particularly sensitive.Kaif believes leading a cricket board demands a level of focus that can be difficult to provide while holding another major office.“Either you are a politician, or you are a cricketer. You have to balance it. You have to focus on one thing,” he said.Kaif also rejected the idea that Pakistan’s cricketing problems stem from a lack of talented players.According to the former India international, Pakistan continues to possess considerable natural ability but needs a better system and the right people to turn that talent into successful professional cricketers.“Players aren’t bad. You need people who make players. There is a lot of talent in Pakistan,” he added.The latest controversy has ensured that India’s Women’s Asia Cup victory will be remembered for more than the 72-run win over Sri Lanka. Instead of a routine trophy celebration, the final once again ended with an unresolved presentation involving Naqvi.With a similar situation having played out at the men’s Asia Cup final last year, questions over Naqvi’s role at the intersection of cricket administration and politics are likely to remain part of the conversation.
