The Indian cricket team didn’t show up at the Women’s Asia Cup final presentation at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, effectively refusing to take the trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi. This was a repeat of the 2025 men’s Asia Cup final, which ended in Naqvi taking the trophy back to the ACC office in Dubai, where it still is.
Harmanpreet Kaur’s team beat Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final and celebrated as usual, including with interviews for the broadcaster. The presentation usually follows in 15-20 minutes, but this time, it took over an hour. In the meantime, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia and vice-president Rajeev Shukla interacted with the squad on the sidelines, even sharing the team’s private dressing-room medal ceremony.
Reports in Pakistani media said earlier in the day that Naqvi reached the ground with the intention to present the trophy, which is his decision as the ACC chief. He took part in the ceremony, too, and presented Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu with a cheque for their runners-up finish.
But the Indian team, coach, and officials were nowhere to be seen near the stage. Pakistan media also claims that he’ll likely take the women’s Asia Cup trophy to the ACC office yet again.
Deja Vu for Mohsin Naqvi
Naqvi was present at the same venue for last year’s India-Pakistan men’s final, where a similar controversy unfolded. After India won the tournament, the team refused to receive the trophy from Naqvi, asking instead for another ICC or ACC official to present it.
The snub was part of India’s broader stance during the tournament in light of the Pahalgam terror attack. The team had already refused to participate in the customary handshakes before and after matches against Pakistan, and then India captain Suryakumar Yadav had dedicated the first of three tournament wins over the rivals to the Indian army.
The BCCI’s decision to avoid Naqvi was also said to be linked to his previous comments about India in his capacity as the federal interior minister of the country. Naqvi, however, refused to let another official hand over the trophy, resulting in a stalemate at the venue. He eventually left the ground with the silverware and took it to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) office.
Indian administrators, including Shukla, subsequently raised the matter at ICC meetings, but Naqvi remained firm on his position, insisting that India collect the trophy from his office rather than allowing another official to present it.
Source: News18
