India Women Refuse Asia Cup Trophy from Mohsin Naqvi in Solidarity with Men's Team

Dubai - India's women's cricket team refused to accept the Women's Asia Cup trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi after winning the final against Sri Lanka by 72 runs on Sunday, mirroring the men's team's stance from last year.

🚨🇮🇳 INDIA’S DIRTY POLITICS IN CRICKET EXPOSED AGAIN!

Indian women’s cricket team refused to receive the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, similar to India’s men’s team in 2025.

Naqvi responded by leaving the stadium.

India is turning cricket into a joke, not a sport. pic.twitter.com/1METML1SW5

- Zard si Gana (@ZardSi) September 13, 2026

The presentation ceremony was delayed by nearly an hour as the Indian team declined to participate. Naqvi, who is also the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman and Pakistan's Interior Minister, handed the runners-up cheque to Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu but was left waiting on the podium before leaving the stadium abruptly. Indian players conducted their own medal presentation on the sidelines in the presence of BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia and vice-president Rajeev Shukla.

BCCI Explains Decision

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia stated that the refusal was a "conscious, institutional decision" made in advance and communicated to the ACC, reflecting "prevailing national sentiments".

"Our men's team won the Asia Cup a year and a half ago. And our whole situation, since the April 2025 Pahalgam incident, changed after that," Saikia said. "Our military conflict is still ongoing. One of the main leaders who is working against the interests of our country; we can't receive the trophy from him. The Women's team has expressed solidarity with the decision taken by the men's team last year."

Saikia also revealed that the BCCI had requested ACC Deputy Chairman Khalid Al Zarooni to present the trophy instead, but this proposal was not accepted, leaving India with "no other option but to not be a part of the presentation ceremony".

Background

The controversy traces back to the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 people and sharply escalated India-Pakistan tensions. India's men's team subsequently refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy from Naqvi in 2025, a stance the women's team has now replicated.

Saikia emphasized that India's participation in the tournament fulfilled its sporting commitments as an ACC member, but "participation in a multinational tournament and the manner in which the trophy is received are two separate matters".

Naqvi's Position

According to reports citing Pakistani media, Naqvi had stuck to his decision to present the trophy individually despite being aware of India's position before the final. An ACC source stated: "The trophy is available to the winning Indian team. Our position has not changed."

Fan Reaction

As Naqvi left the stadium, chants of "Trophy chor" (trophy thief) echoed around the Dubai International Cricket Stadium-a callback to similar chants during last year's men's Asia Cup controversy.