India win Women's Asia Cup but return home trophy-less over Naqvi row

Harmanpreet Kaur's Indian women's cricket team has returned to India without the Asia Cup trophy despite defeating Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final, replicating a controversy that first erupted with the men's team exactly 12 months ago.

The winners' silverware remains locked away in the Asian Cricket Council office after the Board of Control for Cricket in India refused to allow Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who currently heads the ACC, to present the trophy to the victorious side.

Presentation Ceremony Concludes Without Winners Receiving Prize

Naqvi arrived at the Dubai International Stadium minutes before the last ball was bowled and insisted on presenting the winners' trophy himself. The Indian contingent rejected the proposal, leading to a brief and delayed presentation ceremony that concluded without the winners receiving their prize.

Behind-the-scenes discussions took place over the post-match formalities, with the Indian side taking the position that ACC vice-president Khalid Al Zarooni could present the trophy, a stance that BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia also communicated to Aaj Tak. But Naqvi did not relent.

The PCB chairman stood on the podium and handed the runners-up cheque to the Sri Lankan team. Al Zarooni, Sri Lanka Cricket Transformation Committee head Eran Wickramaratne, Emirates Cricket Board secretary general Mubashir Usmani and a female representative of DP World, the title sponsor of the Asia Cup, were among those on the podium.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia and vice-president Rajeev Shukla were present at the ground but they did not go up on the dais or share the stage with Naqvi. They spoke to the Indian contingent on the ground.

Indian Players Absent From Field During Formalities

Unlike the men's team in the previous year, the Indian women's team members did not even return to the ground after BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia presented Nandini Sharma with an in-house best fielder medal.

"It was the same old story. Naqvi wanted to present the trophy, but the Indian team said no. So the compromise was to go ahead with the ceremony without the presentation of the winners' trophy," said a source in the know. "So there was neither a trophy nor medals for the Indian players".

The Sri Lankan team received the runners-up cheque from Naqvi, and before that all the players and support staff accepted medals from SLC interim chief Eran Wikramaratne. Naqvi left the stadium immediately after presenting the award to Sri Lankan skipper Chamari Athapaththu, but unlike last year he moved away without carrying the trophy.

Head Coach Muzumdar Backs BCCI Position

Amol Muzumdar, the head coach of the Indian team, was later asked about the episode. "That stand has been taken by the BCCI, and we stand by it. For us, this tournament is over. We are the champions. That's good enough," he said.

"It was on the big board that India are champions of the Asia Cup 2026. This tournament is officially over for us. We are happy that we have turned out to be champions. Now, we look forward to the Asian Games," he said.

When pressed with another question, Muzumdar repeated his comments. "The stand has been taken by the BCCI, and we are united and standing by it. Absolutely. For us, this tournament is officially over," he said.

"The fact that we are champions, we are really glad, and I am really proud of every single person in this unit, including the support staff and the players, needless to say. We are looking forward to the Asian Games now. This is officially over," he added.

Second Year Running India Refuses Trophy From Naqvi

It may be recalled that the Indian men's team had last year declined to receive the Asia Cup trophy and medals from Naqvi, who heads the Pakistan Cricket Board and is also the Interior Minister of that country.

Almost 12 months after Suryakumar Yadav's victorious Indian team came home without the Asia Cup Trophy, Harmanpreet Kaur's triumphant Indian side has had to undergo the same experience, returning home empty-handed despite winning the Asia Cup women's championship fair and square.

The Indian team is yet to receive the Asia Cup trophy, which has since been kept in the ACC office. Instead, the Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian outfit conducted an impromptu celebration on the dais without the physical prize.

Backdrop of Geopolitical Tensions

The men's Asia Cup took place a few months after the Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent Operation Sindoor last year. The atmosphere was extremely serious, sensitive and charged, and it resulted in the impasse over the trophy.

One year on, the situation has not changed, with the BCCI sticking to its uncompromising stance.

Harmanpreet Kaur-led India defeated Sri Lanka by 72 runs to lift their record-extending eighth Asia Cup title, but the players did not come out on the field for post-tournament presentation ceremonies.

The past has come full circle and the familiar script repeats itself. What was not acceptable to them on September 28 last year remains unacceptable now. The brief ceremony at the Dubai International Stadium underscored that the trophy impasse between Indian cricket and Naqvi's ACC leadership continues unabated for the second year in a row.