Former Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Yousuf has publicly supported Mohsin Naqvi, the head of both the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Naqvi recently faced criticism for his involvement in a controversy surrounding the Asia Cup.
The dispute arose after India defeated Pakistan to claim the Asia Cup 2025 title. Reportedly, the team, led by Suryakumar Yadav, declined to accept the championship trophy directly from Naqvi during the presentation ceremony. Following this refusal, the PCB chief departed the event with the trophy, leaving the Indian players to celebrate their victory without it. This incident subsequently ignited widespread outrage and criticism directed at Naqvi, prompting the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to demand his impeachment as ACC chairman.
Yousuf, who himself has previously drawn controversy for referring to Suryakumar Yadav as a “pig” on live television, firmly asserted that India should have accepted the trophy from Naqvi during the official presentation.
“What the Chairman, Sir Mohsin Naqvi, is doing is absolutely correct. He has taken the right stance. India should have accepted the trophy at that moment. According to ACC and ICC rules, he was present there as the ACC chief, and the trophy should have been handed over specifically through his hands,” Yousuf explained on Samaa TV.
Continuing his critique, Yousuf further accused India of being engrossed in its “filmy world” concerning the entire dispute, implying an exaggerated or unrealistic approach to the situation.
“You didn`t take it then, so what`s the rush now? You should have gone and collected it from his office if you remembered that the trophy needed to be collected. At the stadium, you were busy with your `films`. I said it back then – they just can`t get out of their cinematic world. This is sport, this is cricket; there`s no room for films here. In films, there are retakes and all, but becoming a hero in cinema is quite different. Here you are playing a genuine sport, and now you say you want the trophy.”
