ACC President Mohsin Naqvi Hits Back at PM Modi, Says Sports Must Not Be Mixed with War

Islamabad/Dubai: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President **Mohsin Naqvi** strongly rebuked Indian Prime Minister **Narendra Modi** for linking war with sport, calling such rhetoric “a disappointment” that wounds the very spirit of the game.

In a message shared on social media, Naqvi condemned attempts to bring conflict into cricket, saying that doing so damages the culture and values that underpin international sport. He directly challenged Modi’s framing of war as a source of pride, noting that historical reality tells a different story: India has suffered humiliation and defeats at the hands of Pakistan in past conflicts — a fact that cannot be altered by the outcome of any cricket match.

Naqvi’s remarks come amid heightened tensions and controversy surrounding the **Asia Cup T20 2025 final in Dubai**, where India beat Pakistan but later refused to accept the tournament trophy from the ACC president. The incident already sparked criticism over sportsmanship and politicisation of cricket, and Naqvi’s response further intensified the public exchange between cricketing and political leadership in both countries.

While Naqvi stressed that sport should bring people together rather than be used as a proxy for political or military boasting, his comments also underscored the growing sensitivity around matches between the two neighbours — where on-field results often spill into broader national narratives.