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"No Knowledge Of The Sport" - Madan Lal Blasts PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi
Follow UsMadan Lal said Naqvi lacks understanding of the sport and is tarnishing Pakistan’s reputation
Former Indian all-rounder Madan Lal has strongly criticised Mohsin Naqvi for walking away with the Asia Cup 2025 trophy after Suryakumar Yadav and his team defeated Pakistan in the final in Dubai. Madan Lal, a member of India’s 1983 World Cup-winning squad, said Naqvi lacks understanding of the sport and is tarnishing Pakistan’s reputation. India beat Pakistan three times in the tournament, including the final, but each clash sparked fresh controversy.
The tensions began in the group stage when the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) lodged an official complaint with the ICC, accusing Indian players of violating the spirit of cricket by refusing post-match handshakes. The PCB also demanded the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft, alleging that he had advised India captain Suryakumar to skip the customary handshake at the toss.
Things escalated further during the Super Fours clash, when Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan were seen making provocative gestures toward Indian fans. Haris Rauf and Shaheen Shah Afridi were also involved in heated exchanges with Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma.
The final only added fuel to the fire. Once again, there were no handshakes, and after India clinched the title with a five-wicket win, the team refused to accept the trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief Naqvi. Instead, Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s Interior Minister and PCB chairman, walked away with both the trophy and the medals.
“All these things should not have happened. When players lift that trophy in front of the fans, or on live TV, that is when it looks good," Madan told India Today.
“Mohsin Naqvi has no knowledge of the sport. How a sport should be played, how one should behave. There were so many people from the Indian team who were standing on the dais afterwards. He should have told someone else to give the trophy to the Indian team. The PCB chief has destroyed his and his country’s reputation.”
Naqvi has since stated that Indian players can collect their prizes from him personally if they wish. Commenting on this, Madan said, “Why should Suryakumar Yadav go to the Asian Cricket Council office to collect the trophy? India won, you should have let them celebrate with the trophy on the ground. But of course, he does not have any knowledge, in their country everything is decided by the armed forces."