Controversy in India vs Pakistan Asia Cup final: Who is Mohsin Naqvi - PCB head with no cricket experience

Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board, Mohsin Naqvi, center, speaks as former cricket board heads Najam Sethi, left, and Ramiz Raja watch during a press conference regarding the Asia Cup tournament, in Lahore, Pakistan. (AP Photo)

In an unprecedented event at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium after the Asia Cup final, the Indian cricket team declined to accept the trophy from Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the chairman of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).

About 90 minutes after India defeated Pakistan by five wickets to win the trophy, the drama started. On the field, the Indian cricketers were celebrating with their families, which included the wife of captain Suryakumar Yadav and the family of head coach Gautam Gambhir.

Mohsin Naqvi and his team from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and ACC were waiting nearby for the trophy to be presented. However, citing Naqvi's strong anti-Indian views, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) notified their ACC contact that the Indian team will not receive the trophy from him.

This was after the Indian team refused to shake hands with Pakistan throughout the competition.

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Who is Mohsin Naqvi?

Naqvi was born in Lahore, Pakistan, on October 28, 1978. He attended Government College University (GCU) in Lahore after completing his elementary education at Crescent Model Higher Secondary School. He then moved to the US to study further at Ohio University, where he graduated with a journalism degree.

His professional journey as journalist started at CNN, where he was an intern. He subsequently founded the City Media Group in Pakistan.

He was named in the PCB governing board on January 22, 2024, by interim Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar and days after on February 6, 2024, he was chosen the 37th chairman of the cricket board.

Naqvi has no prior experience playing professional cricket and his appointment was criticised since he had been Punjab's caretaker chief minister before joining the PCB.

As the spouse of Warda Ashraf, a niece of former Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi and the daughter of the late SSP Ashraf Marth, Naqvi has ties to one of Pakistan's most influential political families. Three daughters and one son make up the couple's four children together.

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The "Dubai Leaks", which revealed Pakistan citizens' ownership of offshore real estate, included the name of Naqvi's wife, Warda. With a list of over 23,000 properties held by Pakistanis in Dubai as of early 2022, the Dubai Leaks have garnered significant attention.

Naqvi responded by stating that all taxes on his wife's properties have been paid and is allowed to possess real estate overseas. According to Dawn, he also asserted that his family's investments are legal and demanded that individuals who unlawfully obtain offshore assets be investigated.

By posting a video of Cristiano Ronaldo making a fighter-jet gesture during the Asia Cup, Naqvi provoked uproar. This incident came after Haris Rauf's earlier controversy when he made a fighter-jet and "6-0" gesture during the Super Four match versus India in Dubai.

Former Test cricket coach for Pakistan Jason Gillespie chastised Naqvi earlier in June for skipping an important team-building exercise.

“Gary came up with this great idea of a connection camp. Everyone in the Pakistan cricket basically shared their experiences in that meeting. I flew in from Australia, Gary flew in from South Africa, and the Chairman Mohsin Naqvi dialled in on Zoom. He is based in Lahore, but he did not come, while Gary came in from Africa. We both felt that the chairman could not even drive 20 minutes to come here - that was a bit unusual,” Gillespie stated during a podcast appearance.

Also Read | How India boycotted presentation ceremony and refused to accept Asia Cup trophy from Mohsin Naqvi

Naqvi was accused of election tampering while serving as Punjab's caretaker chief minister. Liaquat Ali Chattha, a former commissioner, accused Rawalpindi officials of tampering with the general elections held on February 8, 2024.

Rana Sanaullah, the minister for inter-provincial coordination, urged Naqvi to decide between his post in the interior ministry and his duties as PCB chairman.

After ACC chairman Mohsin Naqvi walked away with the Asia Cup trophy as the Indian team refused to take it from him in Dubai, the BCCI intends to voice a "very strong protest" against him at the next ICC meeting in November.

Devajit Saikia, the secretary of the BCCI, supported the Indian team's choice. “As far as the trophy presentation is concerned, India cannot accept the trophy from someone who is actively waging a war against our country,” said Saikia.