Ex-ICC umpire tears into Mohsin Naqvi amid Asia Cup trophy row: ‘Anybody could have handed over the trophy’

Ex-ICC umpire tears into Mohsin Naqvi amid Asia Cup trophy row: ‘Anybody could have handed over the trophy’ (Photo- IPL)

Anil Chaudhary, the former ICC umpire, has spoken out about the Asia Cup trophy dispute and criticized Mohsin Naqvi, the head of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), for his antics following the final. More than two weeks have passed since India defeated Pakistan in the Asia Cup final, but the team captained by Suryakumar Yadav has not yet been presented with the trophy or the medals for winning.

Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s Interior Minister, walked away with the accolades after Suryakumar Yadav and other Indian players declined to accept them from him due to his anti-India stance. He later reiterated that if the Indian team wanted the trophy, they would have to collect it from him personally.

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As the trophy impasse continued, Chaudhary, speaking on the Raunac Podcast, criticized Naqvi for his actions during the final.

"Anybody could have handed over the trophy. There were plenty of individuals representing the UAE authority as well. Nothing states that you have to collect the trophy from just one person. It has no mention in the rules, but woh Sajjan trophy leke chale gaye (he took away the trophy). Sajjan also has another meaning. Like I said, there's no rule that only one person has to hand over the trophy," said Chaudhary.

When asked if he had ever met him, Chaudhary said, "I don't even know who he is."

The 60-year-old called Naqvi's behaviour "weird," adding that he had never seen anything like it in his time as an umpire.

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"I just know Mohsin Raza. I only saw it in the media. Yeh coat-pant waalo se zyada milta nahi main (I don't meet people who wear coats and pants). I have never seen a trophy not be given. In local cricket, yes, there must have been instances, but I can't recall," he added.

After retiring from umpiring, Chaudhary, who now runs a YouTube channel, also discussed the notorious handshake dispute between India and Pakistan.

"There's no such guideline. The handshake culture has come into existence over the last 15-16 years. When I started officiating in the Ranji Trophy, there was no such practice. Yes, the captains used to shake hands, but not all players. Today, the players shake hands with almost 70 people. This is just a gesture. It's up to you whether you want to or not," Chaudhary explained.