1 day ago
India Wins Asia Cup but Rejects Trophy Presentation
India's women's cricket team won the Asia Cup after beating Sri Lanka by 72 runs.
It was India's eighth time winning the tournament.
The players did not go on stage to collect the trophy.
This happened because the official expected to present it, Mohsin Naqvi, is also a Pakistani government minister.
India has said it will not accept trophies from Pakistani officials.
Some people support this decision because they see it as part of India's policy toward Pakistan.
Other people think sports ceremonies should remain separate from politics.
The team will next focus on the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup.
India's women's cricket team defeated Sri Lanka by 72 runs to win its eighth Asia Cup title in Dubai.
The team declined to attend the trophy presentation, continuing India's policy of not accepting awards from Pakistani officials.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India linked the decision to Mohsin Naqvi's roles as Pakistan's interior minister and Asian Cricket Council president.
Critics argued that the Asia Cup trophy should not become part of the India-Pakistan political dispute.
India will now prepare for the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup, while its coach said the team remains official champions regardless of the trophy ceremony.
- Who
- India's women's cricket team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, and Sri Lanka; the dispute also involved the Board of Control for Cricket in India and Mohsin Naqvi.
- What
- India defeated Sri Lanka by 72 runs to win the Asia Cup but refused to attend the trophy presentation.
- Where
- Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
- When
- The women's final was reported as taking place on September 13, 2026; the articles also compare it with India's men's Asia Cup final on September 28, 2025.
- Why
- The Board of Control for Cricket in India objected to receiving the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, who is both Asian Cricket Council president and Pakistan's interior minister.
Political and Diplomatic Position
Sporting and Ceremonial Position
Refusing the trophy
Political and Diplomatic Position
India's position is that its teams should not accept trophies or awards from Pakistani officials because of the government's policy on relations with Pakistan and the circumstances following Operation Sindoor.
Sporting and Ceremonial Position
Critics argue that the trophy represents the tournament and the players' achievement, so it should not be drawn into an India-Pakistan political dispute.
Playing the tournament
Political and Diplomatic Position
The Board of Control for Cricket in India argued that India should participate because it was part of a multilateral agreement, while still refusing the disputed presentation.
Sporting and Ceremonial Position
Some critics believe the decision to play the tournament while rejecting its trophy ceremony is inconsistent and diminishes sporting traditions.
Future ceremonies
Political and Diplomatic Position
India's policy requires avoiding a presentation by an official it considers unacceptable because of political or diplomatic ties.
Sporting and Ceremonial Position
The ceremony could be preserved by having a neutral match referee or another mutually acceptable Asian cricket official present the trophy.
Key facts
- Winner
- India's women's cricket team
- Final result
- India beat Sri Lanka by 72 runs
- Title count
- India's eighth Asia Cup title
- Presentation decision
- The Indian team refused to go on stage to receive the trophy
- Official at issue
- Mohsin Naqvi is Asian Cricket Council president, Pakistan Cricket Board chairman and Pakistan's interior minister
- Earlier precedent
- India's men's team reportedly declined the presentation after winning the 2025 Asia Cup
- Next tournament
- The 2026 ICC T20 World Cup
Quotes
Amol Muzumdar
Head coach of India’s women’s cricket team
“India are officially the (Asia Cup) champions. Trophy or no trophy doesn’t matter to us. This is BCCI’s stand (not to take the trophy from Naqvi). We can’t say anything on this”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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