Mohsin Naqvi, which holds some of the main positions as PakistanHome Minister, Pakistan’s Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, and the president of the Asian Cricket Council, were set to receive Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s gold medal. The organizers say the award recognizes “principled and bold stance” during the new trophy delivery controversy Asian Cup Final. The announcement was made by defense counsel Ghulam Abbas Jamal, President of the Sindh Basketball Association and Karachi, in a report covered by The Independent. Jamal emphasized that Naqvi’s actions have “restored the country’s pride” in the middle of the high tensions between India and Pakistan, both in politics and sports.
Naqvi gained global attention during the post -match ceremony when Indian players refused to receive a trophy from it, a move that was widely interpreted as a political snub. In response, Naqvi maintained the trophy and later stated on social media that the Indian team was “welcomed” to collect it from the ACC headquarters if they really wanted to do it. “I didn’t do anything wrong, and I didn’t – and wouldn’t – apologize to Bcci“Naqvi published X (formerly Twitter), after a report suggested that a control board for Cricket in India had committed an offense in its actions. The decision in honor of Naqvi has been widely welcomed among Pakistan politics and sports. The organizers see the award as a symbolic signal of honor and the sharp message of the country’s pride. The plan is underway for the official ceremony in Karachi, with PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was invited as the main guest. The date has not been confirmed, pending Bhutto’s availability. A special committee was set up to oversee the event, chaired by Sindh Basketball Association chief Khalid Jameel Shamsi, with Karachi Sports Director Ghulam Muhammad Khan, served as secretary. “This is not just about cricket,” said Ghulam Abbas Jamal. “It is about dignity, sovereignty, and refusal to bow under pressure.” The Asian Cup final was shadowed by political tensions, as India enforced the “without hands” protocol with a tight Pakistani player. Although India appeared to win, they chose not to receive a trophy from Naqvi, sparking diplomatic chaos. BCCI has raised issues at the ACC annual meeting and is expected to take it further to the ICC in the next session in November. This controversy occurs in the background of tense bilateral relations. Pahalgam’s terrorist attacks, claiming the life of 26 Indian tourists and blamed on Pakistan -based militants, prompted Indian military attacks under “Sindoor operations,” which targeted camps that were said throughout the border.
