The BCCI’s agreement to play a one-off T20I match against Japan ahead of the men’s Asian Games cricket tournament could prove to be a geopolitical masterstroke, as the trophy fiasco involving Mohsin Naqvi could be avoided in the upcoming event in Japan.
For two consecutive years, the Indian men’s and women’s cricket teams have returned from Dubai without the Asia Cup trophy despite winning the tournament. That is because the BCCI refused to accept the trophy from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Naqvi, who is also the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and, more markedly, the Interior Minister of the Pakistani government.
The BCCI’s stance against Naqvi came to the fore when the board asked Suryakumar Yadav’s team to not accept the trophy from Naqvi last year, but the ACC President remained adamant about being the one to present the cup. This same situation occurred recently when the Harmanpreet Kaur-led Indian women’s unit emerged victorious at the Asia Cup, but no trophy presentation took place.
There are fears that similar scenarios could repeat in the Asian Games if India win the cricket tournament, in either or both genders. However, it seems that Naqvi may not be invited at all by the hosting committee.
India vs Japan T20I match a strong political move by BCCI to halt Mohsin Naqvi at Asian Games
It has been reported that the BCCI and Indian government have done a great gesture towards the Japan government and the Japan Cricket Association (JCA) by scheduling the India vs Japan T20I match (men’s) on September 22 ahead of the Asian Games men’s cricket tournament that will commence on September 24.
Japan is currently the 41st-ranked ICC T20I team, and it is very rare for a major cricket nation like India to play a bilateral fixture against such a low-ranked nation.
This India vs Japan match was scheduled recently, and this could tilt the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) towards the Indian government and BCCI by not inviting Naqvi for the medal presentation ceremony.
An ACC member told Cricbuzz, “That is my reading. I think Japan will not allow it. India’s gesture of playing Japan will not go unacknowledged.”
Given the trophy fiasco with Naqvi and Indian teams that have happened over the last two Asia Cups, Japan will want to avoid such an “embarrassment” at the continental level.
The OCA and JOC are “expected to be mindful of India’s concerns.”
Devajit Saikia, the BCCI secretary, refrained from making any affirmative statement yet. A batch of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) is already in Japan, and Saikia is scheduled to fly on October 1, two days before the gold and bronze medal matches of the men’s competition.
Speaking with Times of India, Saikia said, “The teams have to first reach the podium. We will take a call then, taking into account all prevailing factors at that moment. We will cross the bridge only when we reach it.”
When is India’s match in the Asian Games?
The India men’s team has earned a direct qualification into the quarterfinal of the Asian Games, which they will play on September 28. Their opponent will be decided after the initial round of matches involving Afghanistan, Oman, Japan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Nepal.
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