ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has strongly refuted Indian media reports, which claimed he had apologized to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over the Asia Cup trophy handover controversy.

In a sharply worded response on Wednesday, Naqvi, who is also the current Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President, dismissed a report by the Indian newspaper “India Today” as “fabricated nonsense,” accusing the Indian media of spreading “cheap propaganda.”

“Indian media thrives on lies, not facts,” he said. “Let me make it absolutely clear: I have done nothing wrong and I have never apologized to the BCCI, nor will I ever do so.”

The newspaper had reported that Naqvi had privately apologized to BCCI officials but was reluctant to hand over the Asia Cup 2023 trophy and medals unless certain conditions were met.

The claim comes amid lingering tensions over India’s absence from the formal trophy presentation after winning the tournament.

Rejecting the allegations, Naqvi reiterated his readiness to hand over the trophy. “As ACC President, I was ready to hand over the trophy that very day, and I am still ready now. If they truly want it, they are welcome to come to the ACC office and collect it from me,” he said.

He also criticized India for politicizing the sport. “Unfortunately, India continues to drag politics into cricket, damaging the very spirit of the game,” Naqvi added.

The Asia Cup trophy row has become yet another flashpoint in the already strained cricketing ties between the two nations, who currently only face each other in ICC and ACC events due to political tensions.

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Naqvi rejects Indian media claim of apology over Asia Cup trophy