IND vs PAK: Why is Mohsin Naqvi absent Today in India vs Pakistan Asian Games 2026 Final?

The much-anticipated India vs Pakistan men's cricket final at the Asian Games 2026 will take place without Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Mohsin Naqvi in attendance.

The high-profile gold-medal clash is scheduled for Saturday at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, with the presence of the ACC chief having been a major talking point ahead of the contest.

Naqvi, who also serves as chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has been at the centre of tensions between the BCCI and the ACC in recent months. His potential presence at the Asian Games final had attracted additional attention because of previous disagreements surrounding trophy presentations involving Indian teams.

But the ACC officially confirmed Naqvi's absence through its social media channels.

"ACC President, Mr. Mohsin Naqvi, will miss Finals Day at Asian Games 2026 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.

Why is Mohsin Naqvi absent from the Asian Games final?

The official reason given by the ACC is "prior commitments". No further details about the nature of those commitments have been publicly disclosed.

Naqvi himself was quoted in the ACC's post as saying: "Wishing all the participants the very best ahead of 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."

His absence also removes the possibility of another potentially contentious trophy presentation involving the Indian team. Indian men's and women's teams have previously declined to receive their Asia Cup trophies directly from Naqvi. The men's team did so during the Asia Cup 2025, while the women's team followed suit after winning the 2026 women's edition.

The BCCI had maintained that its teams would not receive trophies from Naqvi and had reportedly requested that an alternative official conduct the presentation. And with Naqvi absent in Japan, all parties can breathe a sigh of relief as any such unpleasant moment at the podium will not happen.