India Women’s Cricket Team Refuses Asia Cup Trophy from ACC Chief Mohsin Naqvi Amid Political Tensions

DUBAI - India's women's cricket team has sparked a fresh controversy by refusing to accept the Women's Asia Cup trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, following their 72-run victory over Sri Lanka in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 13, 2026.

The Trophy Refusal

The Harmanpreet Kaur-led team did not appear at the post-match presentation ceremony, leaving the trophy unclaimed. This mirrors the stance taken by the Indian men's team last year, who also refused to receive the trophy from Naqvi during the 2025 Men's Asia Cup .

Naqvi, who serves as the ACC President, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman, and Pakistan's Interior Minister, was present at the venue to present the trophy. However, the Indian team had already returned to the dressing room by the time the presentation began .

BCCI's Justification

BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that the decision not to accept the trophy was made by the board, not the players. He stated that the BCCI had informed the ACC beforehand that they would not participate in the ceremony if Naqvi presented the trophy.

"How could we accept the trophy from the person leading the war against our country after the Pahalgam attack? That is why the men's team did not accept the trophy last year, and now the women's team has not accepted it either," Saikia said .

Saikia also offered two alternatives to avoid the controversy: either ACC Vice-President Pankaj Khimji or a BCCI official could present the trophy. However, Naqvi rejected both proposals and insisted on presenting the trophy himself, leading to a 50-minute delay before the ceremony ended abruptly .

The 'Friendly' Pavilion Interaction

While the trophy refusal was a public display of political stance, BCCI officials Devajit Saikia and Rajeev Shukla were seen engaging in cordial conversation with Naqvi in the Royal Box during the match. This apparent contradiction drew criticism on social media .

Saikia defended the interaction, stating: "It's not as if we wouldn't meet anyone. I was sitting outside in the Royal Box seats right from the toss until the end of the game. Everyone who came met me during the match... That's just a normal tradition-whenever anyone comes, we meet and talk with everyone" .

Shukla added: "When you sit in a match, everyone sits and meets there. It doesn't mean that you have to criticise them hugely" .

The Pahalgam Connection

The controversy traces back to the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 civilians. Following the attack, India's diplomatic and sporting ties with Pakistan deteriorated sharply. Naqvi, as Pakistan's Interior Minister, became a symbol of the political establishment that India holds responsible for cross-border terrorism .

The BCCI maintains that accepting a trophy from Naqvi would be tantamount to legitimizing a government that supports terrorism against India. This stance has been consistent across both men's and women's teams .

Calls for ICC Ban?

The situation has reignited debates about the intersection of politics and sports. Critics argue that the ICC's own constitution prohibits political interference in cricket administration (Article 2.4(D)), yet the ongoing standoff between the BCCI and Naqvi has gone unaddressed by the global body .

Some observers have called for India's suspension from ICC events, arguing that the refusal to accept a trophy from a legitimately elected ACC official constitutes a breach of sporting protocol. However, the ICC has historically shown leniency toward its most powerful member boards, as evidenced by its inconsistent application of sanctions against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka for political interference while ignoring similar issues involving major cricketing nations .

What's Next?

Naqvi's term as ACC President is set to end in April 2027, following a two-year rotational term . The controversy is expected to continue as long as Naqvi remains at the helm of the ACC. Meanwhile, the Indian women's team heads to the Asian Games in Japan, where they will look to continue their winning streak .