Archive · 18 Sep 2026
India Draws Cricket Line at Pakistan’s State, Not People
India and Pakistan have a long and difficult political relationship.
Their cricket matches are therefore about more than sport.
At a recent women’s Asia Cup event, Indian players did not take the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi or pose with him.
The article says Naqvi is both a cricket official and Pakistan’s interior minister.
It argues that India wanted to avoid giving a public photo opportunity to a senior Pakistani state official.
At the same time, Indian cricket legends supported calls for better treatment of Imran Khan when he was imprisoned and reportedly unwell.
Indian cricketers had also helped raise money for Khan’s cancer hospital decades ago.
This is presented as evidence that India can criticize Pakistan’s government while still caring about Pakistani people.
The article says cricket fans in both countries continue to admire players from across the border.
India’s women’s cricket team reportedly declined to receive the Asia Cup trophy from Pakistan Cricket Board chief Mohsin Naqvi or join customary photographs.
The article says India opposes bilateral cricket with Pakistan but continues participating in multilateral competitions.
It argues that Naqvi’s roles as Pakistan’s interior minister and cricket administrator make the trophy presentation politically significant.
Former Indian cricket stars supported an appeal for medical care and humane treatment for jailed former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The article distinguishes India’s opposition to Pakistan’s state establishment from continued people-to-people affection for cricket and Pakistani players.
- Who
- India’s women cricketers, the Board of Control for Cricket in India, Pakistan Cricket Board chief Mohsin Naqvi, and former cricketers including Imran Khan, Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev.
- What
- India’s team declined a trophy presentation and photo opportunity involving Naqvi, while Indian cricket figures have expressed solidarity with Imran Khan and supported humanitarian causes in Pakistan.
- When
- At a recent women’s Asia Cup presentation; the article also refers to actions during Imran Khan’s imprisonment and charity efforts in the 1990s.
- Where
- The trophy incident occurred at the women’s Asia Cup; the article also refers to Pakistan’s Adiala prison and the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital.
- Why
- The article says India sought to avoid legitimizing or publicly endorsing Pakistan’s state establishment while maintaining concern for ordinary people and humanitarian issues.
Sports Neutrality Critics
State Distinction Defenders
Refusing the trophy
Sports Neutrality Critics
Critics argue that sport should remain separate from geopolitics and that declining the presentation politicized a cricket event.
State Distinction Defenders
The article argues that cricket between India and Pakistan is already shaped by geopolitics, and that refusing a photo opportunity with a senior Pakistani state official was a deliberate political boundary.
Relationship with Pakistan
Sports Neutrality Critics
A sports-first approach would emphasize sporting etiquette and engagement despite political disagreements.
State Distinction Defenders
The article supports separating Pakistan’s state establishment from its people: India can reject symbolic engagement with officials while showing humanitarian concern and preserving public affection for Pakistani cricket.
- Indian cricket policy
- The article says India opposes bilateral cricket engagement with Pakistan but participates in multilateral competitions.
- Trophy incident
- India’s women cricketers reportedly declined to receive the Asia Cup trophy from Mohsin Naqvi and skipped customary photo opportunities.
- Mohsin Naqvi’s roles
- Naqvi is identified as Pakistan Cricket Board chief and Pakistan’s Federal Interior Minister.
- Political context
- The incident coincided with India’s position at the BRICS Summit concerning the Pahalgam terror attack.
- Imran Khan appeal
- Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Dilip Vengsarkar and Mohammad Azharuddin were cited as supporting an appeal for medical intervention and humane treatment for Imran Khan.
- Charity support
- Indian cricket figures and cultural personalities reportedly helped raise funds for Imran Khan’s Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital in the 1990s.
- People-to-people ties
- The article says Pakistani fans continue to admire Virat Kohli and Indian audiences remain interested in Pakistani cricketers.