India Women Win Asia Cup But Refuse Trophy From ACC Chief Naqvi

The Indian women's cricket team secured their eighth Women's Asia Cup title on Sunday with a 72-run victory over Sri Lanka in Dubai, but the post-match ceremony concluded without the champions receiving their trophy. The Indian squad, led by captain Harmanpreet Kaur, did not appear on the podium for the official presentation, marking the second consecutive year that an Indian national team has declined to accept silverware from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan's Interior Minister and chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board.

The ceremony at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium was delayed by over 45 minutes following the conclusion of the match. While match officials and the Sri Lankan runners-up were presented with their awards by Naqvi and Sri Lanka Cricket interim chief Eran Wickramaratne, the Indian team remained in a huddle outside their dressing room. According to reports, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had requested that the trophy be presented by ACC Deputy Chairman Khalid Al Zarooni instead of Naqvi. When this proposal was rejected, the Indian team opted to abstain from the ceremony entirely. Naqvi departed the stadium shortly after the runners-up presentation, leaving the trophy behind.

The refusal to accept the trophy follows a similar incident during the 2025 Men's Asia Cup final, where the Indian men's team also declined to collect their awards from Naqvi. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that the board's stance remains unchanged, citing geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan. Saikia stated that the board intends to secure the trophies through official channels at a later date, emphasizing that the decision was a matter of principle. Indian head coach Amol Muzumdar echoed this sentiment, noting that the team's status as champions was sufficient regardless of the physical trophy.

India's victory was driven by a dominant batting display from openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana, who combined for a 129-run partnership in just 12.5 overs. Verma's 24-ball fifty set a new record for the fastest in the tournament's history. Despite a late-innings recovery by the Sri Lankan bowlers, India posted a total of 183/5. In response, Sri Lanka was bowled out for 111, with Indian spinner Sree Charani claiming 4/20. The win extends India's record as the most successful team in the history of the Women's Asia Cup, having now claimed the title eight times.