The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will lodge a formal complaint against Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi with the International Cricket Council (ICC) forum.
The row erupted when India's Asia Cup-winning team was deprived of their due rewards when Naqvi, also the ACC head, took away the trophy as well as winning medals when the Indian team had declined to accept the awards from him.
"Had made a resolve not to accept the trophy from the ACC chairman who is also one of the top leaders of Pakistan. But that does not imply that the gentleman will be accepting the trophy and the medals. It was highly unfortunate, highly unsportsmanlike. Hoping that the trophy and the medals will be brought back to India at the earliest," BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia said.
He further stated, "We will surely file a strong complaint against this act of ACC Chairperson in the ICC meeting in the first week of November."
Even amidst the situation, the Indian cricketers took a lighter approach to it and pretended to celebrate and posed without the trophy.
This is something which I never saw since I began playing cricket, since I began watching cricket that a champion team is not allowed to receive a trophy," Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav said. "Even a hard-won one, it's not that we just got it easily. It was a hard-fought tournament. We were here from the 4th (September), played two consecutive good games.". I think we deserved it. I don't have anything more to say, I feel I have explained really well, I don't have anything more to say about it. If you inform me about the trophies, my trophies are in the dressing room, all the 14 guys, all the support staff. Those are the actual trophies whom I have been a huge fan of in this journey of Asia Cup. Those are the actual trophies, the actual moments which I am bringing back with me as beautiful memories and which will remain perpetual."
The team was some consolation when the BCCI declared a cash award of ₹21 crore to be divided amongst players and support staff.
We are very pleased and congratulate the Indian team for beating Pakistan, hands down - in the group stage, at Super 4, and also in the final. The three matches were one-sided and we congratulate our players and support staff for earning a lot of glory for our country," Saikia added. "Our armed forces have performed in the border area.". Now, the same has happened in Dubai. So, this is a great time, a historic moment for Indian cricket."
Saikia, who was re-elected as BCCI Secretary on Sunday during the AGM, also came to the defense of India's decision to play Pakistan in the Asia Cup.
"We have maintained from the very beginning that we have adhered to the spirit and policy decided by the government of India," he clarified. "When it is a bilateral tournament, India is not going to play with Pakistan or any other enemy nation. In multinational tournaments where many other nations are also participating, whether it is cricket or football, we must play. Otherwise, our other games will be affected or the federation will be banned by the international federation.". Thus, we took part despite there being some demonstrations or opposition from certain quarters. But this dashing victory against Pakistan will give a lot of happiness to the nation.
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