Mohsin Naqvi to Miss India-Pakistan Asian Games 2026 Gold Medal Match

ACC president and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi will not attend Finals Day at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, where India and Pakistan will meet for the men’s gold medal.

Naqvi’s absence comes after the controversy at the 2025 Women’s Asia Cup, when India’s players refused to accept the trophy from him during the presentation ceremony.

The medal ceremonies at Aichi-Nagoya 2026 will instead be handled jointly by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and local organisers, AINAGOC.

The decision is aimed at avoiding any diplomatic awkwardness during the India-Pakistan final. Japan and India also share close diplomatic ties, with the two countries recently marking their 75th anniversary with a cricket match.

The ACC confirmed Naqvi’s absence in a statement ahead of Finals Day.

“ACC president Mr Mohsin Naqvi will miss Finals Day at Aichi-Nagoya 2026. But he sends his very best wishes to all four teams ahead of the Gold and Bronze Medal matches.”

Naqvi also confirmed that his commitments would keep him away from Nagoya.

“Wishing all participants the very best ahead of the Gold and Bronze Medal matches at the Asian Games 2026. Commitments will keep me away from Nagoya, but I will be looking forward to some thrilling action.”

India and Pakistan will now battle for the men’s gold medal, adding another chapter to their cricket rivalry on the Asian Games stage.

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will face each other in the bronze medal match, with both teams looking to finish the competition with a medal.