Mohsin Naqvi gives free hand to Pakistan players ahead of IND vs PAK Final (Source: PTI)
Ahead of the Asia Cup 2025 final against India, which is scheduled for September 28 (Sunday) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has escalated tensions. According to reports, the PCB, under the leadership of Mohsin Naqvi, head of the PCB and chairman of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), has allowed its players to take an aggressive approach against Indian players both during and after the final. Pakistani media claim that Naqvi told the national team to ‘fight’ Indian players, promising that the board would deal with the consequences.
This comes after players like Sahibzada Farhan, Shaheen Afridi, and Haris Rauf went too far in their behaviour against India during the Super Four match. The PCB now fully supports its players, raising the stakes of the final, despite the ICC fining and warning both Rauf and Farhan for their actions.
“Do whatever you want; I’ll handle it.,” Naqvi was quoted as saying by Pakistani journalist Qadir Khawaja. Another level of suspense is added by Naqvi’s appearance near the end. He is anticipated to supervise the trophy presentation following the game, which includes the traditional handshake between the two teams, in his capacity as ACC chairman.
Although it is customary for a board chief to attend a game, his combined roles as the head of the PCB and an outspoken critic of India may cause trouble. Although the BCCI has not made its position clear in public, it is unlikely that the Indian squad will interact with Naqvi, given its “No Handshake” policy with Pakistan.
In the past, Naqvi has caused arguments during the competition. He allegedly put pressure on the PCB to accuse match referee Andy Pycroft of limiting friendly conversations following India’s match on September 14, a charge that the ICC denied. In addition, he requested that India captain Suryakumar Yadav be banned on a Level 4 charge after Yadav showed support for the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and attributed India’s victory to the country’s military.
The tension has been increased by Naqvi’s mysterious videos on X, which include a Cristiano Ronaldo goal celebration that shows an aircraft crash. These gestures are similar to those Haris Rauf did during India’s September 21 match, which resulted in fines.
The Asia Cup 2025 final is looking to be more than simply a cricket match, with tensions at an all-time high. The PCB’s support of its players and Naqvi’s attendance guarantee that the match will be dominated by drama both on and off the court. In addition to the cricket match, fans will be closely monitoring the ongoing political and administrative disputes between the two boards.