PCB Chair Naqvi to Address ICC on India’s Conduct in U19 Asia Cup Final

In response to allegations of provocative conduct by Indian players during the Under-19 Asia Cup final, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi announced plans to “formally inform” the International Cricket Council (ICC) about the incident.

The tournament concluded with Pakistan’s decisive 191-run victory over India in Dubai on Sunday. Tensions were evident on the field, with players from both teams exchanging heated words and foregoing the traditional handshakes before and after the match.

“Indian players continuously provoked the Pakistani players throughout the Under-19 Asia Cup final,” Naqvi remarked during an event hosted by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. “We intend to formally notify the ICC about these occurrences. It’s crucial to keep politics separate from sports,” he continued.

Sarfaraz Ahmed, the mentor and manager of the Pakistan team, also expressed his disappointment with the conduct of the Indian players, describing their behavior as “improper and unsatisfactory.”

Any formal complaint from Pakistan will rely heavily on the match referee’s report to the ICC. Diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan have been strained following the Pahalgam terror attack in April this year, which tragically resulted in the deaths of 26 tourists.

While the Indian government has stopped all bilateral sports engagements with Pakistan, exceptions remain for multi-nation competitions in accordance with the Olympic Charter, which opposes political discrimination.

Published on December 23, 2025.