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Will the Asia Cup drama stage in Japan during the trophy distribution ceremonies after the finals of the women's and men's cricket events? Concerns remain, as both India's and Pakistan's national cricket teams are in the tournament.
As the head of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and the chief of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), there will be no surprise if Mohsin Naqvi is assigned to present the trophy to the winning sides of the ongoing cricket events in the 2026 Asian Games.
Asia Cup trophy fiasco in 2026 Asian Games?
If Naqvi takes the stage to distribute the trophies, and both women's and men's teams emerge as the winners from their respective segments, then will the Indian cricket teams accept the title from Naqvi's hands? Amid the concerns and practical chances, a fresh Cricbuzz report claimed that there are very thin chances of seeing Mohsin Naqvi on any of the podiums in the Games.
A source close to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) also expressed his doubts over Naqvi's availability in the 2026 Asian Games trophy ceremonies. "I don’t think so", A spokesman for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) told Cricbuzz.
The updates are based on the current circumstances. Who will be there to present the trophies to the winners of the women's cricket event and men's cricket event is yet to be disclosed. As there is no confirmed information on the guest of honour, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) also has no plans for the events.
BCCI secretary's comment on 2026 Asian Games
The women's cricket team led by Harmanpreet Kaur is to play the semifinal against Bangladesh on Sunday. And the men's team, led by Shreyas Iyer, is yet to start their 2026 Asian Games journey.
"The teams have to first reach the podium. We will take a call then, taking into account all prevailing factors at that moment. We will cross the bridge only when we reach it,” the BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told Times of India.
The Asian Games trophy fiasco is unlikely to be repeated in Japan because of political and diplomatic reasons. India and Japan share a pretty healthy relationship, and of the governments will want to dent the relationship by taking some controversial call. The one-off T20I match between the Japan national cricket team and the India national cricket team at Sano is an example of the India-Japan relationship.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Japan Cricket Association (JCA) have definitely worked to schedule the match, but it will not happen without the support of both of the nations' governments.
ACC official on the availability of Mohsin Naqvi for the Asian Games trophy distribution
India, arguably the best team in the T20Is, is set to play a match against Japan, an associate nation ranked 41st, is a gesture of friendship, and the host nation will definitely take a not on that.
"That is my reading. I think Japan will not allow it. India’s gesture of playing Japan will not go unacknowledged," one of the ACC members informed the media.
