Sipu Jha
Mohsin Naqvi, who holds multiple key positions as Pakistan’s Interior Minister, the Pakistan Cricket Board chief, and President of the Asian Cricket Council, is set to receive the Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Excellence Gold Medal. Organisers say the award recognises his “principled and courageous stance” during the trophy handover controversy at the recent Asia Cup final. The announcement was made by Advocate Ghulam Abbas Jamal, President of the Sindh and Karachi Basketball Associations, in a report covered by The Independent. Jamal highlighted that Naqvi’s actions had “restored national pride” amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, both on the political front and in sports.
Naqvi gained global attention during the post-match ceremony when the Indian players refused to accept the trophy from him, a move widely interpreted as a political snub. In response, Naqvi retained the trophy and later stated on social media that the Indian team was “welcome” to collect it from the ACC headquarters if they truly wished to do so. “I did nothing wrong, and I did not — and will not — apologise to the BCCI,” Naqvi posted on X (formerly Twitter), after reports suggested the Board of Control for Cricket in India had taken offence at his actions. The decision to honour Naqvi has been widely welcomed across Pakistan’s political and sports circles. Organisers view the award as both a symbolic gesture of respect and a pointed message of national pride. Plans are underway for a formal ceremony in Karachi, with PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari invited as the chief guest. The date is yet to be confirmed, pending Bhutto’s availability. A special committee has been established to oversee the event, chaired by Sindh Basketball Association head Khalid Jameel Shamsi, with Director Sports of Karachi, Ghulam Muhammad Khan, serving as secretary. “This is not just about cricket,” said Ghulam Abbas Jamal. “It is about dignity, sovereignty, and the refusal to bow under pressure.” The Asia Cup final was overshadowed by political tensions, as India enforced a strict “no handshake” protocol with Pakistani players. While India emerged victorious, they opted not to accept the trophy from Naqvi, sparking a diplomatic stir. The BCCI has raised the issue at the ACC’s annual meeting and is expected to take it further to the ICC during its next session in November. This controversy unfolded against a backdrop of strained bilateral relations. The Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 Indian tourists and was blamed on militants based in Pakistan, prompted Indian military strikes under “Operation Sindoor,” targeting alleged camps across the border.
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