Mohsin Naqvi to Receive Gold Medal for Running Away with Asia Cup 2025 Trophy

In one of the most bizarre moments in cricket history, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi is set to be honoured with the Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Excellence Gold Medal—ironically for “running away” with the Asia Cup 2025 trophy after India’s victory over Pakistan in the final. During the post-match ceremony, Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s Interior Minister, was expected to hand over the trophy to the Indian team. However, to everyone’s shock, he refused to present it and instead left the venue with the trophy, taking it back to his team hotel.

The incident sparked widespread criticism from both Indian and international cricketing circles, with the BCCI filing an official complaint. Yet, in Pakistan, Naqvi’s actions have been hailed by some as a “principled and courageous” act. Advocate Ghulam Abbas Jamal, President of the Sindh and Karachi Basketball Associations, announced the decision to honour Naqvi, describing his act as a stand for “dignity, sovereignty, and national pride” amid tense Indo-Pak relations.

A grand award ceremony is being planned in Karachi, where PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will be the chief guest. A special committee led by Sindh Basketball Association Chairman Khalid Jameel Shamsi and Karachi Commissioner’s Sports Director Ghulam Muhammad Khan has been formed to organize the event. While critics call the move “absurd,” supporters argue it symbolizes defiance against Indian dominance in sports. The irony of rewarding Naqvi for such behaviour has turned the story into a viral talking point across social media, blending satire, nationalism, and political theatrics.