Indian media claims World Cup trophy fake, ICC rejects allegations

Indian media claims trophy that Indian captain Dhoni received is fake, real trophy seized by customs.

Indian media on Monday claimed the Cricket World Cup trophy that Indian captain MS Dhoni and his teammates received was a fake. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has, however, rejected the allegation.

“The ICC on Monday rejected reports that the World Cup with the Indian team is a replica and maintained that it is the original trophy after controversy broke out over news that that it was a fake that was presented to the team on Saturday,” reported the Times of India.

“Several former cricketers expressed dismay over the alleged goofup by the ICC and the BCCI,” it reported.

This is considered the first time in the 36 years of the cricket World Cup that a replica has been handed to the winning team.

“The real trophy, valued at about $130,000 in money terms, but priceless for any cricket lover, was not at the Wankhede stadium, as the world had been led to believe,” reported India Today.

“The base of the original trophy has names of all the winners since 1975 engraved on it while the one presented to Dhoni at the Wankhede Stadium had a blank black base,” reported.

It was also reported that the real trophy had been seized by the Mumbai Customs on its arrival from Colombo.

According to India Today a top official of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and an ICC official confirmed that the trophy will be going back to the ICC headquarters.