Naqvi will not attend the India‑Pakistan gold medal match at the Asian Games 2026, as the ACC confirmed the former Pakistan interior minister’s prior commitments will keep him away from Korogi Park.
The man behind the decision is no stranger to cricket politics—he’s the ACC president, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, and still holds a ministerial seat. These overlapping roles have kept him in the media spotlight, especially now that the match pits India against Pakistan for the first time in a gold medal showdown.
The trophy issue is the real kicker. The BCCI has long refused to accept the Asia Cup trophies from Naqvi, citing political sensitivity. Pakistan’s interior minister said the only way India can get the trophies is to collect them himself—an odd twist that’s already sparking debate in Delhi’s cricket circles.
With the bronze‑medal clash between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh already finished, all eyes are on the final. No one will be handing over the silver or gold medals today, and that quiet void could become the talk of the post‑match press conference. The decision may also influence how the Olympic Council of Asia handles future ceremonies.
The match itself will kick off at 4:30 pm JST on Saturday, with both teams ready to fight for the coveted gold. The next big story: who will lift the trophy—if someone does—once the game ends.