New Delhi, October 2, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi will not attend the men’s cricket gold medal match between India and Pakistan at the 2026 Asian Games due to prior commitments, the ACC has confirmed.
The high-profile final is scheduled to be played at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan. Naqvi extended his best wishes to all four teams competing in the gold and bronze medal matches.
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will face each other in the bronze medal match ahead of the India-Pakistan final.
“ACC President, Mr Mohsin Naqvi, will miss Finals Day at #AsianGames2026 due to prior commitments, but sends his very best wishes to all four teams ahead of the Gold and Bronze Medal Matches,” the ACC said in a statement posted on its social media accounts on Friday.
India and Pakistan secured their places in the final after winning their respective semi-final matches on Thursday. Pakistan defeated Bangladesh by six wickets in a rain-affected contest reduced to 13 overs, while India registered a commanding 124-run victory over Sri Lanka in the second semi-final.
The final comes amid continuing diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan following the 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, which brought the two countries to the brink of war.
Against this backdrop, customary post-match handshakes between the teams are unlikely, in keeping with recent encounters between the two sides. India has refrained from exchanging handshakes with Pakistani players at international cricket events across men’s, women’s and age-group competitions. The Indian team has also declined to receive tournament honours from Pakistani dignitaries.
During India’s successful Men’s T20 Asia Cup campaign in 2025, Suryakumar Yadav-led India defeated Pakistan three times, including in the final. The Indian team did not exchange handshakes with its opponents and declined to accept the trophy from Naqvi.
Similarly, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led Indian women’s team skipped post-match pleasantries after winning the Women’s T20 Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka in Dubai last month. The team also declined to collect the trophy from Naqvi, who serves as Pakistan’s Interior Minister in addition to heading the PCB and ACC.
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